Trump’s campaign against “drug boats”

The U.S. has reportedly carried out 20 strikes since September on vessels near Venezuela and in the eastern Pacific, killing at least 75 people as it escalates its military buildup in the Caribbean Sea

RAPID MILITARY BUILDUP
U.S. ships in Caribbean by displacement
(Thousands of metric tonnes)

Military personnel deployed†
(Thousands)

Iwo Jima Amphibious Ready Group deployed

Gerald R. Ford CSG arrives

† Also includes military personnel permanently stationed in Caribbean region,
mostly on Puerto Rico and at Guantanamo Bay, Cuba

USS Gerald R Ford Carrier Strike Group

Strikes
Caribbean
Eastern Pacific
Fatalities
Caribbean
Eastern Pacific

Oct 27: Four vessels hit,14 killed in deadliest day of campaign
Strikes*
VENEZUELA
UNITED STATES
MEXICO
COLOMBIA
CUBA
ATLANTIC OCEAN
PACIFIC OCEAN
GULF OF  MEXICO
(Gulf of America)
CARIBBEAN SEA
Caracas
PUERTO RICO
(U.S.)
*Only confirmed locations shown
Guantanamo Bay
500km
300 miles

0
50
100
150
200
250
300
F
M
A
M
J
J
A
S
O
N
Sep 2-8
Sep 9-15
Sep 16-22
Sep 23-29
Sep 30-Oct 6
Oct 7-13
Oct 14-20
Oct 21-27
Oct 28-Nov 3
Nov4-10
0.0
3.4
4.0
3.4
3.7
3.7
3.7
8.7
8.7
8.7
13.7
0
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
1
1
1
1
3
4
1
1
1
1
2
4
4
1
3
23.7
42.4
33.0
18.6
24.5
23.3
142.3
163.6
163.6
272.9
272.9
313
11
3
3
4
11
6
19
3
4
3
8

Sources: Center for Strategic and International Studies (CSIS), Airwars, ACLED
Picture: Getty Images
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