Overview
- Pentagon data confirm eight Navy ships and a nuclear submarine operating in the Caribbean as of October 31.
- The Washington Post estimates the U.S. presence could total about 16,000 personnel, with the USS Gerald R. Ford strike group expected to arrive in the coming days.
- Defense Secretary Pit Hegset says U.S. forces conducted three strikes on suspected drug‑trafficking vessels in the eastern Pacific, killing 14 in international waters.
- Moscow denounces the operations, voices support for Venezuelan sovereignty, and cites alleged breaches of international law while urging de‑escalation.
- U.S. media report that President Trump ended diplomatic efforts and authorized CIA covert activity in Venezuela, while he publicly stated he is not considering strikes on Venezuelan territory.