The Venezuelan armed forces began a three-day military exercise called Caribbean Sovereign on the island of La Urchilla in the Caribbean Sea.
The exercise involves the deployment of 2,500 troops, 12 naval vessels, 22 aircraft, 20 small naval militia vessels, special surveillance drones, submarines, and ZU air defense systems.
In a statement, Venezuelan Defense Minister Vladimir Padrio Lopez described the operation as a response to the “threatening and offensive deployment of US ships in the Caribbean,” which Venezuelan leaders see as a threat to the country and the region.
He added that the exercise includes electronic warfare and air defense measures and responds to Washington’s threatening and arrogant tone.
The exercise comes as the United States has carried out deadly attacks on ships suspected of carrying Venezuelan drugs in international waters in the Caribbean in recent months, killing at least 14 people.
