Overview

• Two sources cited by Reuters say the USS Lake Erie and the USS Newport News will reach the region early next week as part of operations targeting designated narcoterrorist groups.
• Washington previously ordered an amphibious group — USS San Antonio, USS Iwo Jima and USS Fort Lauderdale — toward waters near Venezuela, with timing affected by Hurricane Erin and no official arrival confirmation.
• The overall deployment involves about 4,500 U.S. service members, including roughly 2,200 Marines, according to the reporting.
• President Nicolás Maduro rejected the U.S. posture, declared that Venezuela would defend its territory, and announced 15,000 security personnel for counter-narcotics operations along the Colombia border.
• The moves follow a February policy designating groups such as Mexico's Sinaloa cartel and Venezuela's Tren de Aragua as global terrorist organizations, alongside longstanding U.S. accusations and rewards targeting Venezuelan officials.