In response to the US military deployment, Venezuela announced the deployment of ships in the Caribbean Sea.

On August 26, local time, it was reported that Venezuela has announced the deployment of ships in the Caribbean Sea to combat drug trafficking. According to two sources familiar with the matter on the 25th, the United States has ordered an increase in naval forces to the southern Caribbean region to support President Trump's efforts to combat drug trafficking groups in Latin America. This move has been repeatedly condemned by Venezuela. Venezuela's Minister of Internal Affairs, Justice, and Peace, Carvajal, said on the 25th that the US government's deployment of troops near Venezuela in the Caribbean Sea under the pretext of combating drug trafficking is malicious. The Venezuelan mission to the United Nations issued a statement on the 26th demanding that the United States immediately stop military deployments in the Caribbean region and guarantee that nuclear weapons will not be deployed or threatened in the area.