Post by : Rameen Ariff

Venezuela has claimed it dismantled a CIA-financed operation allegedly plotting a “false flag” attack on a US warship, escalating already strained tensions between Caracas and Washington. The Venezuelan government said the plan targeted the USS Gravely, a guided-missile destroyer currently stationed near the Venezuelan mainland.

According to officials, Venezuelan authorities uncovered the plot as the USS Gravely docked in Trinidad and Tobago, which lies within firing distance of Venezuela’s coast. The government described the ship’s arrival as a “provocation” and accused the United States of trying to “ignite a war in the Caribbean.”

Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro reacted strongly, announcing the suspension of a gas agreement with Trinidad and Tobago. He accused the country’s Prime Minister, Kamla Persad-Bissessar, of turning her nation into “an aircraft carrier of the American empire against Venezuela.” The Venezuelan leader further claimed that the USS Gravely deployment is part of a broader US campaign to destabilize his government.

The United States, under President Donald Trump’s directive, has significantly increased its military presence in the Caribbean. So far, seven US warships have been deployed to the region, with one positioned in the Gulf of Mexico. The USS Gerald R. Ford, the world’s largest aircraft carrier, is also set to join the operation soon. Venezuela alleges that these moves are part of Washington’s efforts to pressure Maduro’s government and support regime change.

Venezuelan Interior Minister Diosdado Cabello announced the arrest of four individuals allegedly linked to the CIA-backed plan to attack the USS Gravely. He claimed that the group intended to launch a strike and frame Caracas for the attack, further escalating tensions between the two nations. However, he provided no specific details about the suspects or their identities.

Caracas has repeatedly accused the US of funding and training mercenaries to destabilize the Venezuelan administration. In recent months, Maduro’s government has claimed to foil several US-backed operations, describing them as part of a wider “psychological and military war” against Venezuela.

The situation took another turn on Monday when two US B-1B bombers flew close to Venezuelan airspace — the third such maneuver in recent weeks. Flight-tracking data showed the bombers departed from a base in North Dakota, flew parallel to the Venezuelan coast, and disappeared from radar shortly after. Earlier missions involved both B-1B and B-52 aircraft, signaling Washington’s readiness to escalate pressure on Caracas.

The ongoing military buildup comes amid a long-standing feud between the US and Venezuela. Washington has refused to recognize Maduro’s re-election victories in 2018 and 2024, calling them fraudulent. In contrast, Caracas accuses Washington of using “military intimidation” and “economic sanctions” to undermine Venezuela’s sovereignty.

Tensions have also spread to regional allies. Venezuela’s Vice President Delcy Rodríguez earlier urged the government to suspend all gas cooperation with Trinidad and Tobago, claiming it would increase costs for the US and its partners. However, Trinidad’s Prime Minister Persad-Bissessar dismissed Venezuela’s accusations as “blackmail,” stating that her country remains committed to regional stability and cooperation in energy and security.

Recently, Washington authorized Trinidad and Tobago to extract gas from the Dragon gas field, located within Venezuelan waters — a move that has deepened the diplomatic rift. The Venezuelan government insists that the US is “fabricating a war” in the Caribbean for political gain, while Washington continues to accuse Maduro of running a drug-trafficking network and suppressing democracy.

As both sides exchange accusations, the presence of the USS Gravely and other US warships near Venezuelan waters continues to raise fears of a potential confrontation in the Caribbean — a region now caught between diplomacy and rising military tension.

#world news #Global News