Venezuela Conducts Fresh Military Exercises in Caribbean, Bolstering Regional Presence and Projecting Power.

Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro announced new military exercises in the Caribbean on Saturday, stretching from the Caribbean Sea to the Orinoco River along the Brazilian border. The drills come after recent U.S. strikes on drug-trafficking boats in Venezuelan waters killed more than 20 people, raising tensions in the region.

Maduro posted about the exercises on Telegram, saying they began "since midnight" and emphasizing "Venezuela's right to peace." The military maneuvers cover a significant corridor that spans from Caribbean waters to Venezuela's southern border with Brazil along the Orinoco River.

The timing appears connected to escalating friction with Washington. Over the past few weeks, U.S. forces have targeted several boats off Venezuela's Caribbean coast that American officials said were carrying drugs. These strikes killed more than 20 people, according to reports.

Venezuela has long used military exercises to project strength during periods of international pressure. The country sits on major shipping routes used for drug trafficking from South America to North America, making it a key battleground in U.S. counter-narcotics operations.

For regional observers, these exercises signal Venezuela's attempt to assert control over its territorial waters while sending a message to Washington about sovereignty. The choice to extend the drills to the Brazilian border also suggests Caracas wants to demonstrate its ability to secure multiple fronts simultaneously.

The Caribbean remains a critical transit zone for illegal drugs, with Venezuelan waters serving as a major corridor. U.S. anti-drug operations in the area have increased in recent years, but they often create diplomatic tensions with countries that view them as violations of sovereignty.