Ben Finley, Konstantin Toropin and Regina Garcia Cano | Associated Press

Navy Vs. Narcos: The U.S. Navy warship USS Iwo Jima in the Atlantic Ocean on May 22, 2025, before it was deployed to the Caribbean last month to join other U.S. military assets in counternarcotics operations.

Americas

A timeline of the US military's buildup and strikes against Venezuela leading to Maduro's capture

President Donald Trump had long threatened that he could order military strikes on targets on Venezuelan territory after months of attacks on boats accused of carrying drugs from the South American country.

In this photo provided by the U.S. Navy, the USS Gerald R. Ford embarked on the first of its sea trials to test various state-of-the-art systems on its own power for the first time Saturday, April 8, 2017, from Newport News, Va. The first of the Navy's new class of aircraft carriers will spend several days conducting builder's sea trials, a comprehensive test of many of the ship's key systems and technologies. (Mass Communication Specialist 2nd Class Ridge Leoni/U.S. Navy via AP)

Americas

US aircraft carrier nears Venezuela in flex of American military power

Ben Finley, Konstantin Toropin and Regina Garcia Cano | Associated Press

It's a stark flex of American military power not seen in Latin America for generations. Some experts foresee warplanes catapulting off the USS Gerald R Ford to strike targets in Venezuela unless authoritarian President Nicholas Maduro resigns.

Americas

Boat strikes, warships and Venezuela rhetoric raise questions about Trump's goals

Ben Finley, Konstantin Toropin and Regina Garcia Cano | Associated Press

President Donald Trump has sent American warships to the waters off Venezuela and has boasted about strikes on alleged drug boats.