Analysts said the deployment was more a show of force than an antidrug strategy.
“This is less of a counternarcotics operation, more of a show of strength,” Ramsey said. “This is ultimately an attempt to saber-rattle and see what comes out of it.”
The move also plays to domestic politics, he added. Many Venezuelan and Cuban voters in South Florida who oppose any business ties between Venezuela and the United States were angered by the Trump administration’s decision to allow Chevron to restart oil operations in Venezuela and by direct negotiations that led to the resumption of deportation flights to Caracas. Oil is a major source of revenue for Venezuela.
Both developments were seen as a sign of warming relations that conferred legitimacy on Maduro.
The naval buildup provides a way to demonstrate toughness without jeopardizing U.S. policy, analysts said. San Juan Daily Star
What comes after the rattling turns into saber use?