Tensions in the Caribbean

Venezuela asks Russia, China and Iran for help

Venezuela is asking Russia, China and Iran for military assistance during the escalation with the United States, documents obtained by the Washington Post show.

The Venezuelan government is asking for, among other things, radar systems, aircraft repair equipment and potentially even robots and drones, according to the US intelligence documents.

According to information to the Miami Herald, the Trump administration has decided to launch a ground attack on Venezuela in the near future. Trump himself denies this.

It is not clear how Russia, China and Iran have responded to Venezuela's request.

Trump: Not considering attacks in Venezuela

Donald Trump says he has no plans to attack targets in Venezuela. When asked directly if he is considering such attacks, he briefly answers "no", Reuters reports.

The denial comes after the Miami Herald and the Wall Street Journal published information that an attack could be imminent. According to the Miami Herald, the decision has already been made. 

Sources: US has decided to attack Venezuela

The Trump administration has made the decision to attack military targets in Venezuela, sources tell the Miami Herald.

The attacks could come at any time, within hours or days. The US will attack targets via the air that are used for drug trafficking in the country, the newspaper writes.

The Wall Street Journal has somewhat conflicting information and writes that Donald Trump has not made a definitive decision about the attacks.

US officials believe that the cartel exports about 500 tons of cocaine annually to Europe and the US. The US has doubled the reward for information leading to Maduro's arrest to 50 million dollars, which is the largest reward ever, writes the Miami Herald.

The US military has greatly increased its presence off the coast of Venezuela and has repeatedly attacked boats that the US says are smuggling drugs.

Trump's War on Alleged Narco-Terror - It's About the Point

• Since September, the United States has carried out at least fourteen military attacks on boats allegedly smuggling drugs from Venezuela and Colombia, mainly in the Caribbean and Pacific Oceans.
• At least 61 people have been killed in the attacks, according to US authorities, and some attacks have taken place in international waters.
• US President Donald Trump has justified the efforts with combating drug trafficking and has classified several Latin American cartels as terrorist organizations in armed conflict with the United States.
• Venezuela has responded to the US military presence with military exercises and Colombia has recalled its ambassador to the United States; relations between the countries have deteriorated.
• Several experts and international actors question the legality and motives behind the US military operations, and believe that the aim may be to pressure Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro to leave power.