Donald Trump increased the number of military personnel deployed near Venezuela to 6,700.

The number of military personnel deployed by United States President, Donald Trump, on the coasts of Venezuela, along with amphibious ships, warships, and a submarine, rose to about 6,700 troops, including 2,200 Marines, according to The New York Times.

The arrival of this new contingent, which was originally intended for operations in Yemen against the Houthis, was delayed by several days due to Hurricane Erin and the long journey from the Middle East to America. According to sources cited by the U.S. outlet, the vessels are expected to position themselves between Sunday, August 24, and Monday, August 25, about 200 nautical miles off the Venezuelan coast, near Curaçao.

In the southern Caribbean, the Iwo Jima Amphibious Group will be operational, consisting of USS San Antonio, USS Iwo Jima, and USS Fort Lauderdale, which together transport about 4,500 military personnel. This force will be joined by the 22nd Marine Expeditionary Unit, composed of 2,200 soldiers specialized in rapid interventions.

The White House describes Nicolás Maduro's regime as a narco-state linked to the so-called "Cartel of Los Soles," which is held responsible for introducing enormous quantities of drugs into the region over the past ten years. This classification as an international terrorist organization, according to various analysts, marks an irreversible break in the relationship between Washington and Caracas.

Meanwhile, within Venezuela, an atmosphere of silence and tension prevails. According to a report by El Tiempo of Bogotá, much of the population avoids expressing themselves publicly for fear of reprisals, since laws such as the so-called "Simón Bolívar" include prison sentences for those who disseminate or support sanctions against the regime. Amid rumors and misinformation, the public closely follows every move by the United States.

In parallel, dictator Nicolás Maduro called on about 4.5 million militiamen to "defend sovereignty" and confront foreign forces. Venezuelan state media describe this measure as "a patriotic response to the North American threat."

This United States deployment responds to the Trump administration's priority policy of using military resources in the fight against narco-terrorism. Washington recently classified several criminal groups as international terrorist organizations, including the Sinaloa Cartel, Tren de Aragua, and Cartel of Los Soles, the latter directly linked to the Chavista leadership and to Nicolás Maduro.