Venezuela Accuses US Navy of Intercepting Fishing Vessel

On the 13th local time, the Venezuelan government issued a statement claiming that the Venezuelan fishing vessel "Carmen Rosa" was illegally intercepted by the U.S. Navy's "Jason Dunham" missile destroyer (DDG-109) while sailing 48 nautical miles northeast of La Blanquilla Island in Venezuela's exclusive economic zone on the 12th.

The statement noted that the fishing vessel was operated by nine fishermen, and the U.S. military vessel was not only equipped with powerful cruise missiles but was also controlled by highly trained Navy SEALs. The U.S. military vessel dispatched 18 armed personnel to board and occupy the small, harmless fishing vessel for eight hours, obstructing communication and interfering with the fishermen's authorized tuna fishing operations.

The statement emphasized that the U.S. military's actions were a direct provocation against Venezuela, serving as an excuse for the U.S. to escalate military operations in the Caribbean region, with the ultimate goal of promoting regime change in Venezuela.

On the same day, the Venezuelan Foreign Minister held a press conference to release video footage taken by the fishermen, demanding that the U.S. military immediately cease its actions that threaten the security and peace of the Caribbean region. The Foreign Minister reiterated Venezuela's commitment to pursuing a peaceful path to ensure national stability and the well-being of its people.

In recent times, relations between Venezuela and the U.S. have remained tense. The U.S. has deployed multiple warships in the Caribbean Sea near Venezuela under the pretext of "combating Latin American drug cartels." The Venezuelan President has refuted the U.S.'s false narratives, announcing the deployment of defensive forces at 284 "frontline" locations nationwide to counter potential military invasions.