Overview
- The U.S. Navy says the carrier has arrived to support efforts to dismantle criminal networks and curb drug smuggling.
- The Pentagon ordered the redeployment from the Mediterranean, describing it as a step to underscore U.S. resolve to protect national security.
- Officials confirmed to DPA a tally of 20 strikes with 79 fatalities against alleged smuggling boats in the Caribbean and Pacific.
- Venezuela regards the U.S. buildup as a threat, with rising tensions as the United Nations urges Washington to exercise restraint.
- President Trump has accused Nicolás Maduro of ties to drug trafficking and confirmed authorizing covert CIA operations in Venezuela.