Concern is growing among Nicolás Maduro’s allies as the Venezuelan president calls for military drills in response to U.S. warships deployed in the Caribbean.
Exiles in South Florida say the move is about more than narcotics.
“I think they are trying to get the regime out to stop drugs from entering the country,” said Nain Vijani.
With a $50 million bounty on Maduro, Sebastian Jaramillo added, “In my personal opinion they want to scare him … and if they don’t they are getting in.”
Yasenis Rodriguez said, “Everyone knows we want our country to be free … so if it’s this way then so be it.”
But not all agree.
“I think he’s a murderer, but I also don’t justify that President Trump orders this type of actions,” said Danilo Gonzalez, a Colombian national.
Colombian President Gustavo Petro has deployed 20,000 troops to the Venezuelan border, which some see as provoking. But Maduro’s call for militias has also drawn backlash.
“Those old men need less humiliation … the government themselves are humiliating this poor old people,” Rodriguez said.
For now, the outcome of these operations remains uncertain.
