The United States has deployed a large naval force to the Southern Caribbean, saying the move targets Latin American drug cartels. President Donald Trump has made cartel crackdowns central to his security agenda, Reuters reported.

Seven US warships, a nuclear submarine, and thousands of Marines are part of the buildup, supported by surveillance flights. The White House said the mission aims to stop narcotics flows, claiming support from regional governments.

According to Reuters, Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro condemned the deployment as a threat to his country’s sovereignty and filed a complaint with the UN. He has ordered 15,000 troops to Colombia’s border and urged citizens to prepare for civil defense, portraying US pressure as part of an “economic war.”