Its arrival marks an escalation in the military build-up between the United States and Venezuela. US president Donald Trump has sought to justify the massive military build-up as part of his “war on drugs”, targeting traffickers allegedly smuggling narcotics through Caribbean and Pacific waters. That campaign has included air strikes on boats that have so far killed at least 76 people in South American waters since September. Analysts see the military build-up as a way to pressure Nicolas Maduro to step down. Many analysts see the attacks on boats and the growing military build-up as a way to pressure Mr Maduro to step down after stealing last year’s election.
