US Military Deploys Hundreds of Troops to Venezuela

According to the International Desk of Webangah News Agency, U.S. military presence in Venezuela has significantly increased, with over 900 troops now inside the country, according to General Francis Donovan, Commander of U.S. Southern Command. In a statement to Reuters, General Donovan also noted that approximately 800 additional personnel are stationed at U.S. force staging areas within the Caribbean region.

The U.S. general asserted that American soldiers have participated in search and rescue operations, contributed to the reopening of an airport, and mobilized air and sea resources to facilitate the delivery of humanitarian aid. He further claimed that the U.S. military has deployed at least four to five MQ-9 Reaper drones over Venezuela. These drones, in conjunction with an intelligence fusion unit in Miami, are reportedly enhancing the reconnaissance capabilities of Venezuelan officials for monitoring the on-the-ground situation.

General Donovan declined to speculate on the duration of the U.S. military’s mission in Venezuela, deferring further questions to the U.S. Department of State, which oversees the broader U.S. humanitarian assistance mission. However, he indicated that the U.S. military is not preparing for any long-term ground assignments with the deployed forces supporting relief efforts. “We are not talking about staying. This is what we do in relief operations, and when we are done, we will leave,” he stated.

Despite the temporary nature of the deployment, Donovan expressed optimism that U.S. efforts could contribute to fostering stronger military relations with Venezuela.