INTERNATIONAL

Venezuela Condemns USS Visit, Trinidad Defends Drills

The USS Gravely arrived in Trinidad for joint naval exercises, drawing a sharp rebuke from Venezuela, which called the move a provocation. Vice President Delcy Rodriguez said she would ask President Nicolas Maduro to withdraw from a 2015 cross-border gas exploration agreement. Trinidad's government said U.S. drills are routine, and Prime Minister Kamla Persad-Bissessar has backed strikes on alleged drug vessels, saying traffickers should be "blown to pieces." The Trump administration has expanded military operations in the Caribbean, announcing new deployments and reporting 10 vessel strikes since September, with at least 43 people killed.

Reviewed by JQJO team

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