Venezuela’s Military Drills Spotlight U.S. Presence in Caribbean—A Warning Americans Should Heed

Venezuela’s Defense Minister Vladimir Padrino López recently announced military exercises premised on the hypothetical threat of a U.S. military invasion. While Caracas paints this as a defensive response to alleged "imperialist irrationality," the timing and nature of these drills raise important questions about the escalating tensions in the Caribbean—and how Washington’s decisions directly influence regional stability near America’s borders. Is U.S. Naval Presence in the Caribbean Provoking Instability? The Venezuelan government sees the U.S. naval deployments as a direct threat, alleging they are attempts to provoke regime change. From Caracas’ perspective, Washington’s operations—justified publicly as anti-narcotics missions—are provocations aimed at...