U.S. Army Releases Action-Style Video Flaunting 'Elite Warriors' in Anti-Drug Operations Near Venezuela

The U.S. Southern Command (Southcom) released a new video on Monday highlighting operations connected to the Trump administration's military deployment in the Caribbean, a mission launched more than two months ago to target drug cartels operating in the region.

The 49-second video, posted on Southcom's official X account, features Marines from the 22nd Marine Expeditionary Unit, referred to in the caption of the post as " elite warriors ready to meet any challenge" and willing to "demonstrate their lethality during training in support of the mission."

The message also emphasizes that the operations are directed by the Department of War and align with President Donald Trump's "priorities to disrupt illicit drug trafficking and protect the homeland."

The footage opens with the sound of a ticking clock, followed by scenes of armed personnel and military equipment in action. Its cinematic quality mirrors other Southcom productions showcasing U.S. military power in Latin America. Over the weekend, the Pentagon expanded its regional presence with the deployment of the USS Gerald R. Ford, the U.S. Navy's largest aircraft.

The post comes amid an ongoing U.S. campaign to intercept narcotics shipments at sea, which officials have framed as a defensive measure against organized crime. However, the Venezuelan government and human rights organizations have criticized the operations, claiming that several recent attacks on small vessels allegedly involved in drug trafficking amounted to "extrajudicial executions" of civilians, including fishermen.

The new Southcom video also coincides with the arrival of he USS Gravely, a guided missile destroyer, to Trinidad and Tobago for what local authorities described as a series of "training exercises" with the country's defense force. The exercises are scheduled to continue through October 30.

Venezuela condemned the visit as "a hostile provocation against Venezuela and a serious threat to Caribbean peace," claiming—without evidence—that a "false flag" operation was being prepared near its borders. The Venezuelan government accused Trinidad and Tobago's Prime Minister Kamla Persad-Bissessar of turning her country into "a military colony subordinated to U.S. hegemonic interests."

Officials in Port of Spain rejected the accusation, insisting the exercises were planned in advance and aimed at strengthening defense cooperation. Meanwhile, the U.S. military presence in the Caribbean continues to grow, with several vessels—including the USS Gerald R. Ford aircraft carrier—now assigned to the Southcom mission.