Donald Trump has deployed 10,000 US troops, nuclear-capable bombers, and America’s most elite special operations unit — the “Night Stalkers” — to the waters off Venezuela.
The Caribbean is now bracing for its most explosive showdown in decades as dictator Nicolás Maduro whips his country into a war footing and vows to repel any US attack.
In a dramatic escalation, three B-52 bombers — the same heavy bombers used in Iraq and Syria — flew for hours off Venezuela’s coast this week.
Meanwhile, MH-6 Little Birds and MH-60 Black Hawks from the 160th Special Operations Aviation Regiment, known as the Night Stalkers, carried out low-level flights just 90 miles from Venezuelan territory.
The storied unit, famed for the raid that killed Osama bin Laden, specialises in lighting-fast, low-altitude night missions and often carries Green Berets, Navy SEALs and Delta Force operators into battle.
The US Navy now has eight warships and a nuclear submarine patrolling the Caribbean.
Most of the American force is based in Puerto Rico, with about 2,200 Marines stationed on amphibious assault ships.
The Pentagon has also deployed F-35B stealth fighters, P-8 Poseidon spy planes, and MQ-9 Reaper drones to the region.
Visual analysis by The Washington Post shows that the elite helicopters were recently spotted over open water near oil and gas platforms off Trinidad’s northeast coast, bringing them within striking distance — less than 90 miles — of multiple points along Venezuela’s shoreline.
US officials say the flights were training exercises designed to maintain readiness and “provide options” for Trump and the Pentagon, though they could also serve as preparation for expanded missions inside Venezuela.
The US has included Little Birds attack helicopters in its fleet, suggesting potential ground-based operations.
The aircraft, likely launched from the MV Ocean Trader, are expected to support combat search-and-rescue operations.
C-17 Globemaster transport aircraft have also been delivering personnel and equipment to St. Croix.
However, experts warn that Venezuela’s Russian-made S-300 air defences and SA-24 missiles pose serious risks to US helicopters if they cross into Venezuelan airspace.
The military build-up — the largest in the Caribbean since the 1980s — follows at least six deadly strikes on boats off Venezuela’s coast, which Washington claims were carrying drugs.
At least 27 people have been killed.
On Tuesday, six more alleged “narcoterrorists” died when a US strike destroyed their vessel.
A mother in Trinidad and Tobago said her son, a fisherman, was among the dead.
The Pentagon calls the targets “narcoterrorists” and “unlawful combatants.”
“I authorized for two reasons really,” Trump said.
“Number one they have emptied their prisons into the United States of America… A lot of drugs coming in from Venezuela, and a lot of drugs come in through the sea, but we’re going to stop them by land also.”
The president confirmed he had authorised the CIA to conduct covert operations inside Venezuela — a rare public acknowledgment — and suggested that “land” strikes could follow.
Asked if the CIA had authority to “take out” Maduro, Trump called it a “ridiculous” question but added: “I think Venezuela is feeling heat.”
The White House has branded Maduro an “illegitimate president leading an illegitimate regime,” and Trump has put a $50 million bounty on his head.
CIA’s covert operations
The CIA’s newly authorised covert role marks a major escalation.
Mick Mulroy, a former CIA paramilitary officer, told the BBC: “In order to conduct covert action, there needs to be a presidential finding for the CIA specially authorizing it.
“Perhaps a real life ‘Sicario’.”
US officials say the main goal is to drive Maduro from power, though they deny any formal plan for regime change.
Maduro, whose presidency is widely contested internationally after, denounced the move: “No to regime change, which reminds us so much of the endless, failed wars in Afghanistan, Iraq, Libya, and so on. No to CIA-orchestrated coups d’état.”
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