Venezuelans in Caracas are expressing feelings ranging from concern to skepticism, a day after the arrival of a state-of-the-art US aircraft carrier strike group in the Latin American region, intensifying friction between the two countries.
The US Navy announced that the USS Gerald R. Ford Carrier Strike Group will support other warships that have carried out deadly attacks against suspected drug-trafficking vessels in the Caribbean over the past two months.
Although Washington says the military buildup is aimed at cutting off the flow of drugs to the United States, Mr. Caracas believes the United States is really trying to force regime change, and some U.S. officials have privately acknowledged that their strategy is aimed at removing President Nicolas Maduro.
Some Venezuelans living in Caracas’ El Rosal business district share this sentiment, saying the United States should not get involved in other countries’ affairs.
“I don’t think the United States should intervene like that. I think it’s an abuse,” said Noemi Lozada, a housewife.
Salesman Jose Roman said people were acting as if nothing had happened, even though they felt there was an immediate threat. “We’re not a warmongering country. I don’t think we’ve ever been warmongering, and I don’t think anyone in this country is prepared for this, and we never will be.”
But personal trainer Frank Molina says he already knows what he will do if the situation with the United States escalates into conflict. “We are Venezuelans and we will die with our boots on. I am proud to be a Venezuelan and I will defend my homeland to the death,” he says.
Tensions between the United States and Venezuela have been simmering for months with the possibility of more direct action.
CNN reported that the Trump administration is considering plans to target cocaine facilities and drug trafficking routes in South America. But the administration has told Congress in recent days that the United States has no legal justification to support an attack inside Venezuela, and CNN reported that officials are considering what such a legal opinion would be.
In Venezuela, local news stations have covered the issue in detail, but with government oversight, the “official” version dominates the screens. Maduro’s government closely monitors what is said in the domestic media, carefully controlling every word and issuing warnings when those lines are crossed.
But online, social media is awash with speculation that political change is imminent.
And on the streets of Caracas, some welcome the idea of a U.S. intervention, suggesting it could bring much-needed change to a country facing economic and humanitarian challenges.
“Yes, people are pretty anxious, but I think most people are happy about the carrier’s arrival,” says the administrator, who CNN is not naming for security reasons.
“Without a doubt, we need help from the United States. Otherwise we won’t be able to get out of this situation,” said another woman, who requested anonymity for fear of retaliation.
Some acknowledge that there is “a lot of uncertainty,” but as accountant Margarita Fernández says, Venezuelans are “ready for anything, ready for things to change.”
“Honestly, the situation in this country and everything makes me a little nervous,” says painter Enrique Díaz. “But it’s very unpleasant to have to go through this, because in some ways it’s beneficial, but it’s also unpleasant for the country.”
Venezuela announced this week that it would begin a “massive mobilization” of soldiers, weapons and equipment in response to a U.S. military buildup.
Army, air, naval and reserve forces are scheduled to carry out exercises until Wednesday, according to Defense Minister Vladimir Padrino López, who described the U.S. deployment as an “imperialist threat.”
Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth ordered the USS Gerald R. Ford Carrier Strike Group to leave Europe for the Caribbean late last month. It carries nine air squadrons, anti-surface capabilities, and the integrated air and missile defense command ship USS Winston S. Churchill.
