Tensions in the Caribbean

Residents more worried about economy than attack plan: “All I can think about is food”

For two months, US forces have been attacking alleged drug boats off the coast of Venezuela, and the South American country is now surrounded by the largest military presence in decades.

Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro’s government has urged civilians to prepare for the worst, the Washington Post reports. But many say they have other concerns they consider more pressing.

A woman in the state of Sucre says she is worried about a US attack but that right now she can’t think about anything other than being able to buy food. Another woman in the area says the economy is so bad that she will soon “not be able to live like this anymore.”

Venezuela has faced major economic challenges for a decade, and by 2024, seven out of ten Venezuelan households will live in poverty, according to researchers at the Catholic University of Venezuela. 

Satellite images: US military approaching Venezuela

A US military ship is less than 200 kilometers off the coast of Venezuela, according to satellite images verified by Sky News.

It is the USS Iwo Jima, an amphibious assault ship. The channel writes that it is used as a core component of US expeditionary forces. Two other US ships are also nearby.

On Friday, there were reports that the Trump administration had identified potential targets for land attacks in Venezuela, the Miami Herald reported, citing sources. The reports of an attack plan have been denied by Donald Trump. 

US Senate receives list of potential targets in Venezuela

Republican politicians in the US Senate received a list of potential targets for a US attack on Venezuela this week, sources told ABC News.

According to experts, it is likely that ports and airports are on such a list.

In recent weeks, the Trump administration has ordered large military resources to the Caribbean, including the aircraft carrier USS Gerald Ford. At the same time, rumors are growing that the United States is preparing for a military attack.

Military sources that ABC News has spoken to do not believe that an attack is imminent. The information was also denied by Donald Trump on Friday.

- No, that's not true, he replied when asked if an attack is imminent.

Tensions in the Caribbean - it's about the matter

• Since September, the United States has carried out at least fourteen deadly attacks on boats that are alleged to have been smuggling drugs.
• In total, at least 61 people have been killed in the attacks, which mainly took place in international waters in the Caribbean Sea and the Pacific Ocean, according to US authorities.
• The United States has greatly increased its military presence in the region, including by sending the aircraft carrier USS Gerald Ford and several warships to South America.
• The Venezuelan government has condemned the attacks, calling them a threat to the country's sovereignty and asking Russia, China and Iran for military assistance.
• Critics and several experts question the legal basis for the US attacks, saying they may violate international law, while the Trump administration claims they are defending the country against drug trafficking.