The administration of U.S. President Donald Trump has sharply increased military presence in the Caribbean and declared some Latin American drug-trafficking groups as “unlawful combatants,” putting the U.S. in formal “armed conflict” status with elements tied to Venezuela.

In response, dictator Nicolás Maduro has accused Washington of fabricating a “new eternal war” against his government and launched military exercises in coastal zones. The escalation raises questions about international law, regional stability and Venezuela’s role in the broader geopolitics of the Americas.