Venezuela launches drill amid U.S. military buildup in Latin America

Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro announced on Saturday via social media that the country has activated a comprehensive defense command post known as ODDI and launched the "Independence 200" drill in the eastern states of Anzoategui, Monagas and Bolivar.

Maduro said the exercise is designed to fully exercise national sovereignty and protect citizens' lives, adding that "the people are winning peace."

Venezuela's ambassador to the United Nations, Samuel Moncada, accused the United States on Friday at the UN Security Council of taking actions that threaten peace in Venezuela and across the region.

"These are not isolated incidents – they represent a growing threat to the peace and security of our nation and the entire region," Moncada said during an emergency UN Security Council session requested by Venezuela.

He warned that the buildup of U.S. military forces just miles off Venezuela's coast has raised fears of an imminent armed attack. "It is reasonable to believe that a military assault on Venezuela could occur soon. That is why we are here," he said.

Moncada urged the Security Council to prevent further escalation, saying Washington has targeted Venezuelans "inside and outside our territory," branding them a threat "without any evidence."

He claimed U.S. forces recently struck four boats in the Caribbean, killing 21 civilians without providing identification or proof of their alleged criminal ties.

"There is no conflict. The United States is manufacturing one under the false pretext of combating drug trafficking," Moncada said, adding that the real objective is to gain control over natural resources in violation of international law.

While calling for dialogue, Moncada said Venezuela would exercise its right to self-defense under international norms.

U.S. military expands operations in Latin America

The Pentagon announced on Friday it is establishing a new counter-narcotics joint task force overseeing operations in Latin America, aimed at strengthening already intensifying military efforts that have raised legal questions.

Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth said the task force's mission is "to crush the cartels, stop the poison and keep America safe."

"The message is clear: if you traffic drugs toward our shores, we will stop you cold," Hegseth said on X.

The U.S. Southern Command, which oversees operations in Latin America, said the new task force will be led by the II Marine Expeditionary Force (II MEF), a rapid-deployment unit based at Camp Lejeune, North Carolina. The II MEF will "synchronize and augment counter-narcotics efforts across the Western Hemisphere."

It remains unclear whether the task force grants U.S. troops additional authorities as President Donald Trump considers striking suspected drug trafficking sites inside Venezuela.

Marine Lieutenant General Calvert Worth, who leads II MEF and will head the task force, said the focus remains primarily maritime: "Our team will leverage maritime patrols, aerial surveillance, precision interdictions, and intelligence sharing to counter illicit traffic, uphold the rule of law, and ultimately better protect vulnerable communities here at home."

Legal questions over U.S. strikes

The U.S. attacks on boats in the Caribbean have alarmed Democratic lawmakers and raised questions among legal experts about the limits of presidential power.

The administration has not detailed what evidence it has against the vessels or individuals, the types of munitions used, or the quantity of drugs allegedly carried.

Some former military lawyers say the Trump administration's legal justification for lethal action at sea, instead of apprehension, fails to meet law-of-war requirements, which mandate attempting non-lethal measures, such as warning shots, first.

Legal experts have also questioned why the U.S. military, rather than the Coast Guard – the main U.S. maritime law enforcement agency – is carrying out the strikes.

Last week, the Pentagon informed Congress that Trump has determined the United States is engaged in "a non-international armed conflict." The notification outlined the administration's legal rationale for using military force in the Caribbean.

(With input from Reuters, Xinhua)