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A U.S. military ship on Sunday docked in Port of Spain, Trinidad and Tobago amid tensions in the Caribbean sparked by U.S. military action against boats accused of attempting to smuggle fentanyl to the U.S., The Associated Press reported.
The ship is a guided missile destroyer named the USS Gravely, according to the AP. The movement of the ship was planned out quite recently, a Trinidad and Tobago-based senior military official said, the outlet reported.
Trinidad and Tobago is located just north of Venezuela, not too far offshore from the country the Trump administration has directed verbal fire at in recent weeks.
On Friday, White House deputy chief of staff Stephen Miller avoided a question from reporters on the possibility of ground troops on Venezuelan soil. Miller said he “would not now or ever get into any detailed discussion” on possible military options, but referred to Venezuela as a “central hub” for the trafficking of narcotics, weapons and humans.
Senators from both sides of the aisle have expressed worry over Trump’s unilateral approach on conducting military strikes targeting alleged drug cartel boats in the Caribbean.
Multiple lawmakers have raised questions on the legality of the military campaign, which last week went through with its 10th attack in recent months on vessels that officials have claimed are trafficking narcotics with the goal of reaching American shores.
Earlier this month, President Trump used an expletive to advise Venezuelan strongman Nicolás Maduro against conflict with American forces.
“He doesn’t want to f‑‑‑ with the U.S.,” Trump said amid a lunch meeting with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky.
