U.S. forces, centered around a Marine infantry battalion on and around Puerto Rico, are prepared for territorial seizure operations in Venezuela, according to reports from the Washington Examiner. This military buildup is now considered sufficient by planners to seize and hold strategic facilities like ports and airfields within Venezuelan territory. The scale and capabilities of the current deployment suggest objectives beyond solely counter-drug trafficking, as indicated by the Washington Examiner. These developments follow President Donald Trump's October 2nd notification to Congress of a non-international armed conflict with designated terrorist organizations, directing the Department of War to conduct operations against them. Venezuela previously accused U.S. combat aircraft of violating its airspace on October 2nd, a claim denounced by Defense Minister Vladimir Padrino López. The White House had also not ruled out attacks within Venezuela, as stated by a senior Trump administration official. The current U.S. military deployment structure is described as too large, too expensive, and too varied in capabilities to be solely for counter-drug trafficking missions. Military planners believe the assembled forces possess the capacity to seize and control key strategic locations within Venezuela, such as ports and airfields. This readiness comes amid heightened regional tensions and Venezuela's prior placement of its Comprehensive Aerospace Defense Command (CODAI) on heightened readiness.
