Overview

• The U.S. Navy has confirmed destroyers and an amphibious force are moving into the southern Caribbean for counter‑narcotics operations, with Admiral Daryl Caudle saying the deployment provides options for national leaders.
• Reporting identifies three Aegis destroyers already at sea and an amphibious group led by USS Iwo Jima with USS San Antonio and USS Fort Lauderdale carrying roughly 4,000–4,500 personnel, as Venezuela cites the expected presence of the cruiser USS Lake Erie and the fast‑attack nuclear submarine USS Newport News.
• The White House said it is prepared to use any element of U.S. power to curb drug flows and has raised the reward for information leading to Nicolás Maduro’s capture to $50 million after labeling allied gangs as foreign terrorist organizations.
• Caracas staged large military drills, launched a fresh militia enlistment drive, reinforced naval and drone patrols, and deployed about 15,000 troops to the Colombian border.
• Colombia announced roughly 25,000 troops for the Catatumbo region, while Venezuela asked UN chief António Guterres to press Washington to halt what it calls hostile actions and warned of treaty concerns over a nuclear‑propulsion submarine.