Tensions in the Caribbean spiked after Venezuela announced that its security forces had captured what it described as a “mercenary group” allegedly connected to the United States Central Intelligence Agency (CIA).

The government of Venezuela’s socialist dictator Nicolás Maduro claimed in a Sunday statement that it captured an alleged “mercenary group” with “direct information” from the CIA. The statement from Maduro’s Vice President Delcy Rodríguez accused the alleged group of planning a “false flag operation” from around nearby Trinidad and Tobago and accused the small island nation of performing ongoing “military exercises” under “the coordination,

Two B-1 bombers flew over the Caribbean in latest show of force as U.S. military operations in the region continue to grow.

Experts call it "21st-century gunboat diplomacy" as U.S. positions strike-capable forces in Caribbean amid tensions with Maduro regime and cartels.

A report claims that the U.S. military has been positioning a massive number of naval ships, air assets, and troops in the Caribbean region.