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Venezuela deployed more than 2,500 troops to the Caribbean island of La Orchila for military exercises featuring Russian-made fighter jets armed with anti-ship missiles, escalating tensions after President Donald Trump announced US attacks on three Venezuelan vessels.
Venezuelan Defence Minister Vladimir Padrino said the “Caribe Soberano 200” manoeuvres involve 12 ships, 22 aircraft and around 20 vessels conducting amphibious landings and air operations.
State television broadcast images of the exercises, which began on Wednesday in response to US warship deployments in the region.
Russian arsenal and military capabilities
Venezuelan Air Force has also released footage of Sukhoi Su-30 fighters equipped with Russian Kh-31 Krypton anti-ship missiles.
The aircraft belong to the 13th Fighter Air Group and represent part of Venezuela’s 21 Su-30MK2 fighters, though operational numbers remain unclear due to economic constraints.
Venezuela acquired the anti-ship missiles from Russia between 2007 and 2008, according to the Centre for Analysis of Strategies and Technologies.
The International Institute for Strategic Studies think tank confirmed Venezuela operates both anti-ship and anti-radar versions of the Kh-31 system.
The exercises followed Trump’s announcement that US forces attacked three Caribbean vessels allegedly carrying Venezuelan drugs.
Washington maintains its naval deployment includes three destroyers, cruiser Lake Erie, amphibious assault ship USS Iwo Jima and a nuclear submarine on counter-narcotics missions.
‘Worst in the world insane asylums’
Trump demanded on Truth Social that Venezuela accept all prisoners and people from mental health institutions, which includes the worst in the world insane asylums,” currently in the United States.
The US previously placed a $50 million (€42.4m) bounty on President Nicolás Maduro for alleged drug trafficking involvement.
Maduro claims the US deployment seeks regime change and has mobilised millions of militia members nationwide. He warned last month that “no empire will touch Venezuela’s sacred soil” amid escalating rhetoric between the governments.
Special envoy Richard Grenell said Tuesday the US still believes a diplomatic resolution remains possible to avoid military conflict. The standoff represents the latest confrontation between Washington and Caracas over regional influence and domestic Venezuelan politics.
Venezuelan officials described the military exercises as defensive measures against perceived US aggression in Caribbean waters, which fall within Venezuela’s sphere of influence.
