Venezuela vows to protect its coast from US covert ops

Vladimir Padrino, Venezuela’s defense minister, stated on Saturday that as the US increases its military presence in the region, Venezuela is preparing for any “covert operations” along its coast.

The action intensifies the ongoing campaign of fatal attacks on suspected drug-smuggling boats that has killed at least 43 people, and comes a day after the Pentagon ordered the deployment of an aircraft carrier strike group into the area.

“We are conducting an exercise that began 72 hours ago, a coastal defense exercise… to protect ourselves not only from large-scale military threats but also to protect ourselves from drug trafficking, terrorist threats and covert operations that aim to destabilize the country internally,” Padrino said.

Tensions are mounting in the region with US President Donald Trump saying he has authorized CIA operations in Venezuela and that he is considering ground attacks against alleged drug cartels in the Caribbean country.

Eight of the ten alleged drug boats that US military have attacked since September 2 have taken place in the Caribbean.

Nicolas Maduro, the president of Venezuela, dismisses the Republican leader’s accusation that he is the head of a drug gang.

Images of military forces stationed in nine coastal states and a member of Maduro’s civilian militia brandishing a Russian Igla-S shoulder-fired anti-aircraft missile were broadcast on Venezuelan official media.

“CIA is present not only in Venezuela but everywhere in the world,” Padrino said Friday. “They may deploy countless CIA-affiliated units in covert operations from any part of the nation, but any attempt will fail.”

Since August, Washington has deployed a fleet of eight US Navy ships, 10 F-35 warplanes and a nuclear-powered submarine for anti-drug operations, but Caracas maintains these maneuvers mask a plan to overthrow the Venezuelan government.

The aircraft carrier USS Gerald R Ford will enter the region to join the fleet. The warship USS Gravely is also traveling to Trinidad and Tobago Sunday for five days of joint exercises.