“Maduro Accuses Washington of Inciting a New War”

Lebanon Today

Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro accused the United States on Friday of “fabricating a new war,” coinciding with Washington’s strengthening of its military presence in the Caribbean region by sending an aircraft carrier to the area.

Maduro stated, in a statement reported by official media, that “they are fabricating a new eternal war. They pledged that they would not get involved in a war again, and here they are fabricating a war that we will prevent.”

The Pentagon announced on Friday the deployment of the aircraft carrier strike group “USS Gerald R. Ford” to counter what it called “drug trafficking organizations” in Latin America, a move that strengthens the American military build-up, raising fears of a new war in the region.

In a related context, the administration of US President Donald Trump launched a military campaign in the Caribbean region last September, announcing that it was targeting “narco-terrorists,” and included the deployment of 10 “F-35” warplanes and eight ships of the US Navy.

It is worth mentioning that the American raids that targeted at least 10 boats in the region have resulted in the death of more than 40 people so far, and their governments and families confirm that most of them are civilians and fishermen.

Washington also announced on Thursday that it would conduct joint military exercises with Trinidad and Tobago off the coast of Venezuela.

According to a statement issued by the government of Trinidad and Tobago, the US warship “USS Gravely” is scheduled to arrive on its coasts between October 26 and 30, while the 22nd Marine Expeditionary Unit from the US Marine Corps will conduct joint exercises with the defense forces in Trinidad and Tobago during the same period.