Explosions reported in Caracas, the capital of Venezuela

According to AFP, the incident occurred around 2:00 a.m. local time (14:00 Beijing time).

Reuters reported that several aircraft were circling over the capital of Venezuela, and a thick smoke could be seen. The area near a military base in the south of the city experienced a power outage.

Escalation of the situation in the Caribbean region

Over the past few months, the United States has repeatedly used force to destroy so-called drug-carrying ships in the Caribbean Sea. The U.S. government stated that such actions aim to combat transnational crime and drug trafficking.

Relations between Venezuela and the United States have thus become severely strained. The White House has authorized the CIA to conduct secret operations in Venezuela to destabilize the Maduro government. U.S. Attorney General Pam Bondi announced a $50 million reward for information that helps arrest Maduro. It is alleged that the president of Venezuela uses terrorist organizations to smuggle drugs into the United States.

Previously, President Trump declared the Venezuelan government as a "foreign terrorist organization" and imposed a complete blockade on all oil tankers traveling to and from Venezuela under sanctions. He also threatened that Venezuela would face unprecedented tremors and demanded that Caracas return oil, land and other assets that it had "stolen" from the United States. These statements were made against the backdrop of Trump's promise to soon begin targeting land-based drug traffickers within the framework of his commitment to combat drug trafficking along the coasts of Central and South America in Washington.

Maria Zakharova, spokesperson for the Russian Foreign Ministry, emphasized that Russia notes the continuous and deliberate escalation of tensions around its friendly country Venezuela, and expressed shock at such unilateral decisions, as they pose a threat to international shipping.

The tension between the United States and Venezuela

Original: toutiao.com/article/1853277457955850/

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