By Tiana Cole | HGP Nightly News.
Venezuela has announced plans to sharply increase troop deployment in its coastal states to combat drug trafficking. The move comes just days after the United States ordered the deployment of 10 additional fighter jets to Puerto Rico to intensify operations against drug cartels.
Defense Minister Vladimir Padrino confirmed that 25,000 Venezuelan troops will now be stationed along the coast, a significant jump from the 10,000 already deployed. President Nicolás Maduro has accused Washington of seeking “regime change” through military pressure, as tensions between the two countries continue to rise.
The US military buildup follows a strike last week that destroyed a Venezuelan vessel, killing 11 people. US President Donald Trump claimed the boat was carrying narcotics, while warning that Venezuelan aircraft risk being shot down if they continue flying over US warships in the region.
Meanwhile, CARICOM foreign ministers have requested a meeting with the United States to discuss the regional security implications of the military escalation. Trinidad and Tobago’s Prime Minister Kamla Persad-Bissessar has taken a strong stance, voicing concerns about potential instability.
Turning to Africa–Caribbean relations, Antigua and Barbuda’s Prime Minister Gaston Browne has urged closer ties between the two regions. Speaking at the Second Africa-CARICOM Summit in Ethiopia, Browne stressed that the Caribbean and Africa must unite against historic inequalities and design institutions that promote integration, resilience, and prosperity.
Among the initiatives under discussion are air service agreements, investment protection, double taxation treaties, and visa waivers, aimed at expanding trade and strengthening people-to-people ties. The summit also reaffirmed the recognition of September 7th as Africa-Caribbean Day.
