The United States has ordered the deployment of more than 4,000 Marines and sailors, along with naval and air forces, to the southern Caribbean and waters surrounding Latin America as part of a new initiative to combat drug cartels. This military operation, authorized under the administration of President Donald Trump, targets major narcotics trafficking organizations, including the Cartel de los Soles, which is allegedly linked to Venezuelan leadership. The Pentagon's deployment includes a Marine Expeditionary Unit and a nuclear submarine assigned to the Southern Command, aiming to disrupt drug smuggling routes and cartel operations. U.S. officials describe this as a demonstration of force to deter illicit drug trafficking. The move has drawn criticism from Venezuela, with its Defense Minister Vladimir Padrino López accusing the U.S. of attempting to impose a hostile narrative against the country. The deployment reflects an intensified U.S. military presence in the region amid ongoing efforts to counter narcotics trafficking.