US Marine Corps units recently conducted training exercises in Puerto Rico, which included landing and infiltration maneuvers, against a backdrop of increasing US military deployment in the Caribbean and fears of an attack on Venezuela.
The United States Southern Command, whose jurisdiction covers Latin America excluding Mexico, published a message on the social network The video shows a large hovercraft carrying troops, vehicles and equipment, performing an amphibious landing with support from several UH-1Y transport helicopters – from which the Marines also practiced landing – and Apache attack helicopters.
The images, accompanied by dramatic music that mimics a typical action movie trailer, then show teams of Marines moving aboard Polaris MRZR, a light all-terrain tactical vehicle designed to transport personnel over difficult terrain, before securing firing positions or proceeding with infiltration operations.
“U.S. forces are deployed to the Caribbean in support of the Southern Command mission, War Department-directed operations, and the President of the United States’ priorities to combat illicit drug trafficking and protect the country,” the message concludes.
These drills, which complement live-fire training conducted by the Marines from an assault ship last week in the Caribbean, were released a day after several US media outlets, citing sources close to the White House, reported that Washington is poised to attack military positions in Venezuela. The alleged argument of the US administration, under the leadership of President Donald Trump, is that ports and airports – which would be among the main objectives – controlled by the Venezuelan army are in reality used for logistical purposes in the drug trafficking led according to Washington by the Venezuelan president Nicolàs Maduro himself and by the leaders of his government and his Armed Forces. Accusations always rejected by Maduro who, according to some media, has already asked Russia and Iran for help.