Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro has accused the United States of fabricating a war against Venezuela amid heightened tensions as the U.S. deployed the USS Gerald R. Ford, the world’s largest aircraft carrier, near Venezuelan waters. Since early September 2025, U.S. forces have targeted vessels in the Caribbean alleged to be involved in drug trafficking, resulting in at least 43 deaths. Maduro condemned these actions as a false narrative aimed at destabilizing his government, denying allegations that Venezuela produces cocaine leaves or that he leads the organized crime gang Tren de Aragua. Venezuela’s Defense Minister, Vladimir Padrino López, announced ongoing military exercises along the coastline to guard against perceived covert operations, including those by the CIA. The U.S. justifies its military buildup as an anti-drug trafficking effort, targeting cartels and narco-terrorism. However, experts suggest that the actions serve broader U.S. geopolitical aims in the region. The Trump administration has intensified its pressure campaign on Maduro, labeling him and groups like Tren de Aragua as terrorists and offering a $50 million bounty for information leading to his arrest, raising fears of potential regime change or military intervention in Venezuela.