The United States has ordered the deployment of a nuclear-powered fast-attack submarine to the southern Caribbean, escalating pressure on Venezuela as part of a wider operation against drug trafficking in the region. The USS Newport News, a Los Angeles-class submarine, is described by the Atlantic Submarine Force as “the backbone of the United States Navy’s submarine force,” capable of engaging land, sea, and air targets with advanced weapons systems. Their deployment follows last week’s arrival of the Iwo Jima Amphibious Ready Group, consisting of the assault ship USS Iwo Jima, the amphibious transport dock USS San Antonio, and the landing ship USS Fort Lauderdale. Three destroyers – the USS Gravely, USS Jason Dunham, and USS Sampson – also reached waters near Venezuela earlier this week. Tensions with Caracas have spiked to their highest levels since 2019, when diplomatic ties between Washington and Venezuela were formally severed.