Venezuela has announced a mobilization in response to US threats. What the media is writing
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- Venezuela has announced a mobilization in response to US threats. What the media is writing
The mobilization of military and civilian forces has been announced in Venezuela. This happened against the background of tensions with the United States, which sent the newest aircraft carrier Gerald Ford to the Caribbean. The White House is considering possible ground strikes, although US President Donald Trump denies the possibility of an invasion of Venezuelan territory. What the world's media write about what is happening in Latin America is in the Izvestia digest.
CNN: Venezuela announces mass mobilization amid U.S. threats
Venezuela announces the beginning of a "mass mobilization" of military personnel, weapons and equipment in response to the build-up of US warships and troops in the Caribbean. According to Defense Minister Vladimir Padrino Lopez, who described the deployment as a response to the "imperialist threat," land, air, naval and reserve forces will conduct exercises until November 12.
CNN
In addition to regular military units, the exercises will involve the Bolivarian Militia, a reserve force composed of civilians created by the late President Hugo Chavez and named after Simon Bolivar, the revolutionary who ensured the independence of many Latin American countries from Spain. Padrino Lopez, who attributed the order directly to Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro, said the purpose of the exercises was to "optimize command, control and communications" and ensure the country's defense.
This step was taken against the backdrop of rising tensions between the two countries due to the continued build-up of the US military presence. On Tuesday, the U.S. Navy announced that the aircraft carrier Gerald Ford, America's largest warship, has arrived in the U.S. Military's Southern Command area of operations, which covers most of Latin America. U.S. Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth ordered Ford to leave Europe for the Caribbean at the end of last month.
Reuters: US aircraft carrier moves to Latin America
The strike group of the aircraft carrier Gerald Ford has moved to the Latin American region and intensified the build-up of American military power, affecting tensions with Venezuela. Last month, US President Donald Trump ordered the deployment of the Ford, which will join eight warships, a nuclear submarine and an F-35 aircraft already in the Caribbean.
Reuters
The Ford, which entered service in 2017, is the newest aircraft carrier in the United States and the largest in the world. There are more than 5,000 sailors on board. The Pentagon confirmed the arrival <...>, saying it would help "curb drug trafficking, as well as weaken and eliminate transnational criminal organizations." Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro has repeatedly stated that the US military buildup is aimed at removing him from power.
In August, Washington doubled the reward for information leading to Maduro's arrest to $50 million, accusing him of links to drug trafficking and criminal gangs, which Maduro denies. The US military has carried out at least 19 attacks on suspected drug traffickers in the Caribbean and off the Pacific coast of Latin America, killing at least 76 people. When the US first announced the deployment of forces, Maduro warned that if the US ever intervened in the country's affairs, "millions of men and women with rifles would march across the country."
The Guardian: The UK suspends the exchange of intelligence information with the United States
Britain has suspended the exchange of intelligence information with the United States on ships suspected of drug trafficking in the Caribbean Sea, due to concerns that the information provided could be used to launch deadly military strikes by American forces. Such a decision — a rare break between the usually close military allies — would mean that Britain does not consider legitimate the controversial practice of the Trump administration to sink ships allegedly used by drug traffickers.
The Guardian
Britain, which retains control of several island territories in the Caribbean, has long shared intelligence information with the United States about the movements of suspicious vessels coming from Latin America so that the US Coast Guard can detain them. However, CNN, which first reported the story, said that intelligence sharing between the United States regarding possible drug shipments was suspended shortly after the U.S. launched a campaign of deadly strikes in September.
Similar questions were raised before the June raid by American B-2 bombers on Iran's underground uranium enrichment facility at Fordo. The mission was supposed to be launched from the British Diego Garcia military base in the Indian Ocean. As a result, the bombers took off from Missouri.
The Washington Post: What facilities could become targets if the United States attacks Venezuela
Trump has repeatedly stated that the next step towards Venezuela could be ground strikes, but in recent days denied that he was considering an immediate military attack on its territory. According to sources, if the US administration decides to launch ground strikes, American troops can target a range of facilities, from military bases to cocaine purification laboratories, secret airfields or guerrilla camps. However, the potential consequences of such strikes remain uncertain.
The Washington Post
"It is necessary to achieve pinpoint kinetic strikes against drug trafficking facilities and military capabilities, and if this does not have the desired effect, then against the leadership," said [retired American Admiral Jim] Stavridis. "I think the goal here is to convince Maduro that his days are numbered, but to convince him of this, it will take a lot of attacks on Venezuela's infrastructure."
Stavridis suggested that the United States could start by attacking airports or seaports, which they consider potential transshipment points for drugs. They could also strike at transshipment points near Venezuela's border with Colombia, where a significant amount of cocaine comes from. However, the Pentagon would also like to attack Venezuelan air defense systems to ensure the safety of its aircraft, the retired admiral said.
The New York Times: Trump is weighing options and risks of attacking Venezuela
According to U.S. officials, the Trump administration has developed a number of options for military action in Venezuela, including direct attacks on military units protecting Maduro, as well as steps to seize control of the country's oil fields. Trump has not yet made a decision on how to proceed, or whether it is worth it at all. He is not ready to approve operations that could endanger the safety of American troops or turn into an unfortunate failure. However, many of his senior advisers insist on one of the most radical options: removing Maduro from power.
The New York Times
Trump's aides have asked the Justice Department for additional clarifications that could provide a legal basis for any military action beyond the current campaign to target ships that the administration claims are carrying drugs without providing evidence. Such explanations could include a legal justification for attacking Maduro that does not require congressional authorization to use military force, let alone declare war.
Some administration officials believe that Maduro and his senior security officials are central figures in the "Cartel of the Suns," which the administration has recognized as a drug-terrorist group. The U.S. Department of Justice is expected to argue that this makes Maduro a legitimate target, despite long-standing American legal prohibitions against assassinating national leaders.
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