The U.S. military has dispatched more special operations aircraft, personnel and equipment to the Caribbean, and the crude oil market is "ready for action."

### Source: Wall Street CN

Reports indicate that the U.S. has deployed additional special operations forces to the Caribbean, in preparation for potential military action against Venezuela.

According to Xinhua News Agency, U.S. media reported on the 23rd local time that the U.S. has dispatched multiple special operations aircraft to the Caribbean region, along with military personnel and equipment, to further ramp up pressure on the Venezuelan government.

Per U.S. officials and public flight tracking data, this marks the latest escalation of pressure by the Trump administration on Venezuelan strongman President Nicolás Maduro.

Crude oil prices extended their rebound on Tuesday, with WTI crude climbing back above $58 a barrel to close at a near two-week high, logging a nearly 6% gain over five consecutive days. Safe-haven sentiment also provided some support to spot gold, which continued to strengthen and neared the $4,500 per ounce mark.

In recent months, the U.S. has deployed several warships in the Caribbean waters off Venezuela under the pretext of "counter-narcotics operations" to apply pressure on the country. U.S. President Donald Trump has repeatedly threatened to launch a ground offensive against "drug traffickers" in Venezuela "very soon".

U.S. media reported on the 19th that Trump stated in an interview that the possibility of going to war with Venezuela is not off the table. Venezuela has accused the U.S. of attempting to orchestrate a regime change through military threats and expand its military presence in Latin America.

### Large-Scale Deployment of U.S. Special Operations Forces

The report cited a U.S. official as saying that at least 10 CV-22 Osprey tiltrotor aircraft arrived in the region on Monday evening, deployed from Cannon Air Force Base in New Mexico.

Flight tracking data showed that C-17 transport planes from Fort Stewart and Fort Campbell Army Bases landed in Puerto Rico on Monday. Another U.S. official confirmed that these aircraft were carrying military personnel and equipment.

It remains unclear what specific types of troops and equipment the aircraft transported. Retired U.S. Air Force Lieutenant General David Deptula commented:

>The deployment of such assets indicates that the administration has made a decision to take action. The question now is, what objectives are they looking to achieve.

Cannon Air Force Base is home to the 27th Special Operations Wing, while Fort Campbell hosts the elite 160th Special Operations Aviation Regiment and the 101st Airborne Division, according to reports.

The 27th Special Operations Wing and the 160th Special Operations Aviation Regiment are specially trained in high-risk infiltration and extraction missions, and provide close air support and combat assistance.

### Blockade and Military Deployment Proceed in Tandem

The Trump administration is ramping up pressure on Maduro with increasing intensity.

As previously reported by Wall Street CN, the U.S. Coast Guard began seizing oil tankers near Venezuela last week, in an attempt to cut off a critical source of revenue for the Maduro regime.

At the same time, the U.S. has been deploying additional firepower to the region, including a squadron of F-35A fighter jets, EA-18G Growler electronic warfare aircraft, and HH-60W rescue helicopters.

These assets have joined a fleet consisting of five destroyers, one aircraft carrier strike group, and one Marine Corps amphibious combat group.

The Venezuelan government has condemned the U.S. tanker seizures as blatant theft, accusing Trump of pursuing regime change to plunder the country’s natural resources.

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