Trump announced the deployment of an additional submarine and cruiser to the Caribbean.

The administration of President Donald Trump has ordered the deployment of new naval units in the southern Caribbean as part of an intensification of its strategy against Latin American drug cartels, which have been labeled by Washington as "narco-terrorist organizations".

Among the vessels sent, the USS Lake Erie stands out, a guided-missile cruiser, which will arrive in the region at the beginning of next week, according to official sources speaking on condition of anonymity.

The USS Lake Erie is a high-profile warship, equipped with advanced combat systems and guided missiles, which reinforces the offensive and deterrent nature of the deployment.

The decision to mobilize this type of ship reflects the Trump administration's growing concern about a direct threat to national security posed by transnational criminal networks operating in the Caribbean and South America, specifically Venezuela. 

Alongside Lake Erie, the USS Newport News will also be deployed, a fast-attack submarine powered by nuclear energy, which adds a strategic submarine dimension to the operation.

Although no specific details have been given about the assigned missions, sources linked to the Pentagon indicated that the overall objective is to combat drug trafficking networks involved in operations related to drug, weapons, and illegal immigrant trafficking into the United States.

This new deployment adds to that of an amphibious squadron sent last week, composed of the ships USS San Antonio, USS Iwo Jima, and USS Fort Lauderdale, which are positioned near the coast of Venezuela. These vessels carry approximately 4,500 U.S. military personnel, including 2,200 Marines, prepared to carry out land missions if necessary.

The naval deployment in the region is part of the national security policy promoted by Trump, which has prioritized the fight against drug trafficking as a tool to reduce illegal migration flows and protect the southern border of the United States.

The White House rightly considers that organized crime in Latin America not only represents a regional threat, but also a source of internal destabilization for the country.

Although the government has not specified whether the operations will have a direct intervention component, the presence of ships such as the USS Lake Erie, equipped with capabilities for interception, surveillance, air defense, and precision strike missions, suggests that the administration is willing to use military force as a preventive and deterrent measure.