Caracas, Venezuela — As tensions rise with the United States, Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro has announced the deployment of 5,000 Russian-made Igla-S anti-aircraft missiles nationwide. This move comes as U.S. President Donald Trump says that Washington is “considering military operations inside Venezuela.” This is part of a larger plan to break up drug trafficking networks and put pressure on Maduro’s government.
Maduro told military personnel on national television that Venezuela’s forces have fortified “every mountain, town, and city” with portable, shoulder-fired Igla-S missile systems. He said that these short-range defenses make the country “untouchable.”
The Igla-S, which is similar to the U.S.-made Stinger missile, can take out low-flying planes, drones, and helicopters up to 6,000 meters away. Pictures of Venezuela’s Defense Minister Vladimir Padrino López holding the launchers in Caracas have backed up claims of a growing missile network.
The U.S. has sent 4,500 Marines and sailors to the Caribbean. This action puts more pressure on the Maduro regime. The Pentagon says the mission is to stop drug smuggling routes. However, lawmakers from both parties in Washington are now questioning the legality of recent deadly strikes on suspected drug vessels.
Last week, President Trump said that he had given the CIA permission to carry out secret operations in Venezuela. He also hinted that ground troops might follow. “We’re looking at land now because we already have the sea under control,” Trump told reporters. This hint suggests that the U.S. campaign was about to expand.
Reports say that the White House has been working for months to connect Maduro to major drug cartels, citing them as threats to national security. There hasn’t been an official decision to start a full-scale invasion yet. However, U.S. officials emphasize that maintaining a “credible military threat” is crucial to persuading Maduro to step down.
Maduro says he has mobilized “millions of militia members and reservists” in response. Analysts, however, remain unsure of their numbers and readiness. The Venezuelan leader termed U.S. actions as an “open conspiracy against peace” and vowed to protect the country’s sovereignty.
International observers are worried about a “new flashpoint in Latin America.” Two powerful countries are getting closer to conflict amid worsening political and economic issues.
