The U.S. deployed three Navy missile destroyers and around 4,000 military personnel to the waters off Venezuela in effort to thwart cartels.

Amid rising tensions between the U.S. and Venezuela, China voiced strong support for President Nicolas Maduro, condemning American naval deployments and urging Washington to abandon the threat of force.

Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro announced on Monday the deployment of 4.5 million militiamen throughout the country after the United States doubled the reward for information leading to his arrest and increased the number of troops sailing around Latin America and the Caribbean.

Tuesday's massive operation marks a dramatic escalation in Trump's push to block fentanyl and drug pipelines fueling America’s overdose crisis. It also comes as the administration called Venezuela’s regime a "narco-terror cartel" and demanded that President Nicolás Maduro be held accountable.

Tensions between Venezuela and the United States have escalated as President Nicolas Maduro condemned American military maneuvers near the Caribbean, deploying Bolivarian militias and issuing fierce warnings to President Trump.

Private Chinese firm CCRC is investing $1 billion to boost Venezuelan oil output to 60,000 bpd by 2026, filling a gap left by sanctions-driven withdrawals of major companies.

The United States is deploying three guided-missile destroyers to the waters off Venezuela as part of President Donald Trump’s effort to combat threats from Latin American drug cartels.

Gravely and two other Aegis guided-missile destroyers — the USS Jason Dunham and the USS Sampson — are expected to arrive in the region soon, according to reporting by the Associated Press.

A U.S. court auction of Venezuelan-owned U.S. refiner Citgo is heating up after delays as bidders raise their offers, good news for creditors seeking compensation from the South American nation for debt defaults and a wave of nationalizations under late Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez.

The president has "pushed for using the U.S. military to thwart cartels he blames for the flow of fentanyl and other illicit drugs," said The Associated Press. As part of this military force, Trump dispatched a trio of U.

Venezuela and Aruba face off in the Little League World Series on Thursday. The winner will advance to the International Bracket Championship.