US warships sail to Venezuela as tyrant Maduro launches his own fleet & moves 15,000 troops to border with Colombia.

Deployment of US troops to Venezuela

According to The Sun: Donald Trump has sent military ships to Venezuela amid reports that dictator Nicolas Maduro has moved 15,000 troops to the border with Colombia.

Three American destroyers and 4,000 Marines have already arrived off the coast just weeks after the Washington administration announced a $50 million reward for information leading to the capture of the South American tyrant.

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The guided missile cruiser USS Erie and a nuclear submarine are expected to arrive in the Caribbean next week, sources confirmed. The US is taking these measures to counter the threats posed by Venezuelan drug cartels, one of which is reportedly led by Maduro himself.

To counter the American ships, Maduro announced the deployment of 15,000 troops to Colombia, doing so a day before announcing his own naval fleet in Caribbean waters.

Video posted online showed Venezuelan Defense Minister Vladimir Padrino stating that this deployment would include a "significant" number of drones, as well as naval patrols "north of our territorial waters".

The deployment of military vessels comes amid attempts by the US president to combat "narcoterrorist organizations" in the region.

During his first term, Maduro along with other high-ranking Venezuelan officials faced charges in a US federal court, including involvement in a conspiracy for "narcoterrorism".

Investigators claim Maduro's cartel collaborates with the Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia (FARC), which the US has labeled a terrorist organization.

The US Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) has confiscated 30 tons of cocaine linked to Maduro and his inner circle during operations, of which nearly seven tons are personally his, Bondi noted.

The US government has also seized over $700 million in assets linked to Maduro, including two Venezuelan government planes, since September of last year, according to Bondi.

Greedy ruler

Chosen with a narrow margin in March 2013, Maduro rules a country that is experiencing rapid decline.

While hunger and poverty reigned in the country, Maduro lived a luxurious life. Reports indicate that his net worth reached £220 million.

In 2018 he caused outrage when he was photographed during a lavish chef's banquet in Istanbul.

"This is a once-in-a-lifetime moment," the president said, smoking a cigar and ignoring the widespread food issues in his country.

Opposition leader Julio Borges, who fled Venezuela, tweeted: "While Venezuelans suffer and die of hunger, Nicolas Maduro and Cilia Flores enjoy themselves in one of the world's most expensive restaurants, spending money stolen from the Venezuelan people."

Just months ago, his two stepsons spent £36,000 on a luxury 18-day stay at the Ritz hotel in Paris, which is equivalent to a month's salary for 2,000 Venezuelans.

Meanwhile, the president and his family can avoid the chaos they have caused by hiding in their luxurious residence in the capital, which has its own bowling alley, swimming pools, lakes, and restaurants.

Maduro along with his "dirty dozens" live in luxurious estates that could adorn Hollywood.

AFP AFP The deployment of US military units to Venezuela signals increasing tensions in relations between Washington and Caracas. This move appears to be made in response to Maduro's military actions and the threats posed by drug cartels in the region. The situation remains tense, and further developments could have serious consequences for both Venezuela and international politics as a whole.