Venezuelan Navy Training Exercise Backfires After Ship Partially Sinks Amid U.S. Deployment Tensions

An amphibious transport ship from the Venezuelan Navy partially sank during a military exercise off the country's northern coast, days after taking part in maneuvers simulating defense against a naval invasion.

The incident occurred as the authoritarian government of President Nicolás Maduro carries out a series of military mobilizations in response to the recent U.S. troop and bomber deployments in the Caribbean.

Images shared on social media showed the Capana-class landing ship listing forward and taking on water near the town of Cumarebo, in the state of Falcón. The vessel's hull appeared submerged well below its normal waterline, with the bow nearly under the surface.

Unofficial reports collected by Infobae suggest the ship ran aground during a coastal maneuver, causing flooding in the forward section and loss of buoyancy. Observers said the hull appeared to have sustained structural damage that may render it inoperable. No official statement has been issued by Venezuela's Ministry of Defense or the Bolivarian Navy regarding the condition of the ship or the reported 300 crew members on board.

The Capana (T-61), built in South Korea in 1983 and in Venezuelan service since 1984, is one of four Capana-Alligator–class landing ships capable of transporting tanks, vehicles, and troops, as specialized military outlet Pucará Defensa reports. The vessel underwent an extensive refit between 2020 and 2023 at state-owned shipyards, including upgrades to its propulsion, communications, and weapons systems.

According to Infobae, the ship had recently been reassigned to the Amphibious Reaction Unit based in Zulia state.

The incident coincides with heightened military activity ordered by President Maduro. Earlier this week, he announced the expansion of "Plan Independencia 200," a series of readiness drills and troop movements along Venezuela's borders and coastline. "We are winning peace, zone by zone, territory by territory," Maduro said during a televised address, describing the exercises as a defense against "external aggression."

The exercises follow the deployment of U.S. military assets to the Caribbean, including B-52 bombers that conducted a flyover near Venezuelan airspace on Wednesday. The Pentagon confirmed the operation as part of "regional deterrence activities." Maduro responded by accusing Washington of "provocations" and urging Latin American countries to reject what he described as "a new war in the Caribbean."