United States Delivers a Straightforward Communication to Maduro

US Naval Buildup Off the Coast of Venezuela: A Show of Force

A significant US naval buildup is currently taking place in the southern Caribbean, off the coast of Venezuela. More than 4,000 sailors and marines, and at least half-a-dozen major warships are currently operating a thousand miles from the US.

The naval unit, including three Arleigh Burke-class guided missile destroyers and two San Antonio-class warships carrying US Marines, helicopters, and beach landing craft, is stationed off the coast of Venezuela. The highly powerful US naval unit is capable of quickly deploying a Marine Expeditionary Unit of 2,500 Marines ashore along the northern coast of South America.

According to James Stavridis, a retired US Navy admiral and former supreme allied commander of NATO, this naval buildup is not primarily to combat drug trafficking, although it is ostensibly for counter-narcotics operations. Instead, Stavridis suggests that it is a show of force linked to long-standing US regime-change operations targeting the oil-rich country, Venezuela.

Stavridis, who is also a Bloomberg Opinion columnist, dean emeritus of the Fletcher School of Law and Diplomacy at Tufts University, and a member of several boards, argues that defeating drug runners is not about high-tech offensive weapons or massive warships, but about intelligence. He suggests increasing intelligence collection resources available to Southern Command, using its command center in Doral as a data and intelligence fusion center.

The naval buildup also has another mission: to send a message to Venezuelan President Nicholas Maduro. Maduro has consolidated control of Venezuela and has become a prominent thorn in the side of the US and its neighbors. Maduro has made splenetic outbursts against the US deployment and expressions of support for it by some of Venezuela's neighbors.

The US Marines could be used against oil and gas platforms or Venezuelan military bases along the coast. Tomahawk missiles from destroyers or submarines could target critical oil and gas infrastructure in Venezuela. A nuclear-powered attack submarine might be operating in the area.

However, it is important to note that this column reflects Stavridis' personal views and not necessarily the opinion of Bloomberg LP and its owners.

The author also suggests making better use of the Joint Interagency Task Force-South in Key West, Florida, and US law enforcement and intelligence agencies to assess intelligence and deploy US Coast Guard cutters for intercepts.

Maduro has a US$50 million US bounty on his head and is accused of being deep into the narcotics trade by US officials. The US officials are openly prepared for all military options against Venezuela.

This naval buildup is a significant development in the ongoing tensions between the US and Venezuela. It remains to be seen how Maduro will respond and whether this show of force will lead to a resolution of the long-standing issues between the two countries.