CARACAS, Venezuela — The country recently condemned the United States for allegedly seizing a fishing vessel in its exclusive economic zone, accusing Washington of carrying out a “hostile” act that threatens peace in the Caribbean.
According to Venezuela’s foreign ministry, the USS Jason Dunham, a U.S. Navy destroyer, intercepted the boat on Friday and detained its nine crew members for eight hours. Caracas said 18 armed agents boarded the “small, harmless” vessel in what it described as a “direct provocation through the illegal use of excessive military force.”
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“The individuals who ordered this action are looking for an incident to justify escalating war in the Caribbean, with the aim of regime change in Venezuela,” the statement charged. It called on Washington to “immediately cease these actions that endanger security and peace in the Caribbean.”
The incident comes amid heightened tensions between Caracas and Washington. In recent weeks, the U.S. has increased its military presence in the southern Caribbean, saying the patrols are aimed at combating drug trafficking.
The Trump administration has accused President Nicolás Maduro of running a cocaine trafficking cartel and recently doubled its reward for his capture to $50 million. Earlier this month, U.S. forces destroyed a suspected drug boat in the Caribbean, killing 11 people. Washington claimed the vessel belonged to the Tren de Aragua, a Venezuelan criminal organization allegedly linked to Maduro.
