• Venezuela deployed warships and drones in response to US military buildups near its coast.
• The US has sent three destroyers and plans to add more naval assets to curb drug trafficking linked to Maduro's regime.
• President Maduro has intensified military recruitment efforts, calling for thousands to join militias amid perceived threats from the US.
• Venezuela denounces US actions as attempts at regime change and has appealed to the UN for intervention.
• The US has doubled its bounty on Maduro to $50 million for drug-related charges, insisting on pressing charges against him.

Venezuela has deployed warships and drones along its Caribbean coastline following the United States' recent dispatch of three destroyers aimed at pressuring President Nicolas Maduro's administration. Venezuelan Defense Minister Vladimir Padrino confirmed the military action, sharing updates via social media about a "significant" drone deployment and the patrol of naval vessels in the area, particularly larger ships positioned further north in national waters, according to TRT World, Le Monde, and CBS News.

The US military's buildup includes not only three destroyers but also an additional two ships—a guided missile cruiser, the USS Erie, and a nuclear-powered fast attack submarine, the USS Newport News—expected in the region next week. These actions are officially part of an operation targeting drug cartels, as US officials assert that they are combating drug trafficking, particularly linking Maduro to the illicit trade via accusations surrounding the "Cartel de los Soles," according to Al Jazeera, The Jakarta Post, and Le Monde.

In light of the escalating tensions, Maduro has ramped up recruitment for the country's militia, urging citizens to join in defense of the nation against what he describes as "imperialist aggression" from the US, which he claims is only pretexting military intimidation under the guise of anti-drug operations. Thousands of Venezuelans reportedly lined up to enlist in the militias following Maduro's calls, reflecting heightened domestic mobilization, according to TRT World, CBS News, and The Jakarta Post.

Amid these developments, the Venezuelan government has formally petitioned the United Nations for intervention, calling for an immediate cessation of the US military presence near its coast, which it views as a serious threat to regional stability. This letter to the UN denounced what Caracas described as hostile actions and demanded assurances against potential nuclear threats, according to Al Jazeera and CBS News.

Analysts have cautioned against reading the extensive military buildup as an indicator of an imminent US invasion or direct military action against Venezuela, suggesting that these maneuvers might be strategic posturing rather than a precursor to conflict, as many Venezuelans reportedly regard the threats as exaggerated, according to Le Monde and Al Jazeera.