U.S. Destroyer and Cruiser Approach Within 50km of Caracas as Maduro’s Plane Heads North

Two U.S. Navy warships—the destroyer USS Stockdale and the cruiser USS Gettysburg—approached within 50 kilometers of Caracas, entering Venezuela’s exclusive economic zone. Both vessels carry Tomahawk missiles capable of striking land targets, heightening tensions as Washington expands its military footprint in the Caribbean.

Flight tracking data shows President Nicolás Maduro’s aircraft departing Caracas and heading north, likely bound for Havana, where he has frequently consulted Cuban leaders. No official statement has come from Maduro, but the incident followed the end of 48-hour Venezuelan military drills launched in response to the arrival of the USS Gerald R. Ford carrier strike group.

Defense Minister Vladimir Padrino López denounced the U.S. moves as an “imperialist threat” and vowed full civil-military readiness. Analysts estimate the American deployment involves up to ten vessels, including amphibious ships and a submarine, officially justified as counter-narcotics operations. However, experts describe it as modern gunboat diplomacy aimed at pressuring the Maduro government over alleged cartel ties.