U.S. military buildup in Caribbean sparks Venezuela crisis; both nations prepare for conflict amid drug war tensions.

Tensions between Venezuela and the U.S. escalated as Washington deployed military forces to the Caribbean under Operation Southern Spear, citing drug trafficking, while Venezuela declared its highest alert and mobilized its military. President Maduro, in a televised rally, sang John Lennon’s “Imagine” as a peace gesture, criticizing U.S. drills near Trinidad and Tobago and rejecting claims of U.S. intervention. The U.S. has conducted strikes on suspected drug vessels, resulting in over 80 deaths, and continues to prepare for potential action, with advanced assets and training exercises in the region.