U.S. Request to Grenada Sparks Maduro's Concerns

The strained relations between the United States and Venezuela have intensified with Washington's recent move to request Grenada's government to host military equipment and technical personnel on the Caribbean island. This request, which involves the installation of radars at the Maurice Bishop International Airport, has stirred regional unease and set off alarms in Caracas, where the deployment is perceived as a direct threat to its sovereignty.

Strategic Request Amidst Military Campaign

Grenada's Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Trade, and Export Development has confirmed that the U.S. seeks the "temporary installation of radar equipment and associated technical personnel" at the country's main airport. This request is part of a broader context: the deployment of U.S. forces in the Caribbean, officially justified as a crackdown on drug trafficking originating from Venezuela.

According to the official statement, Grenada's Ministries of National Security, Legal Affairs, and Foreign Affairs are "carefully evaluating and reviewing the request" in coordination with the Airport Authority and other pertinent agencies. They emphasize that "any decision will be made only after all technical and legal assessments are completed."

The Grenadian government has attempted to soothe both domestic and international concerns by assuring that the final decision will be guided by "Grenada's sovereignty, public safety, and national interest, including the protection of our tourism industry, travelers, and the country's economic well-being."

Grenada's Diplomatic Balancing Act

Grenada is a member of the Bolivarian Alliance for the Peoples of Our America (ALBA), a political bloc led by Venezuela and Cuba that has condemned U.S. military presence in the region. The organization denounced what it termed an "illegal and provocative incursion" of U.S. aircraft near Venezuelan airspace and warned of a "pattern of aggression aimed at destabilizing the region and imposing imperial doctrines of intimidation."

Grenada's allegiance to ALBA places the small island nation in a delicate position: it faces pressure due to its geographical proximity to Venezuela and its membership in a bloc critical of Washington, while also confronting security realities and the need for cooperation with powers like the United States.

Venezuela's Military Response: "Plan Independence 200"

In response, Nicolás Maduro's government has mobilized troops and initiated military exercises. This week, Interior Minister Diosdado Cabello spearheaded the launch of "Plan Independence 200" in the coastal states of La Guaira and Carabobo, a military deployment exercise aimed at safeguarding key infrastructure such as ports and airports.

Maduro declared that the operation—which involves 27 simultaneous territorial actions—is designed to "sharpen the military and popular machinery" to defend the country against any potential external aggression. In a social media audio message, the president stated that the people and militias "have been actively preparing to withstand as long as necessary."

Caribbean Military Operations: Boats Destroyed and Casualties

Since early September, the United States has ramped up its presence in the Caribbean. The White House has dispatched over 4,500 troops, eight warships, and a nuclear attack submarine as part of a major offensive against drug trafficking.

President Donald Trump reported that the destroyed vessels were carrying "massive amounts of drugs, like a subway car full," claiming each contained enough narcotics to "kill 25,000 Americans." U.S. officials have noted the destruction of at least five speedboats and the deaths of 21 individuals accused of being involved in drug trafficking from Venezuelan shores.

Closing Diplomatic Channels and Fears of Escalation

The New York Times recently revealed that Trump ordered the cessation of all diplomatic efforts with Venezuela, instructing his special envoy Richard Grenell to abandon any rapprochement attempts. This decision marked the end of intermittent negotiations that had included agreements like prisoner exchanges and the continued operation of Chevron's oil activities in Venezuela.

Now, with the naval deployment, boat destruction, pressure on neighboring countries like Grenada, and diplomatic breakdown, Caracas fears an escalation could lead to open military conflict. "If the Yankees attack, we will respond," Maduro warned during a public event, asserting that the country's economy will not be halted "despite more threats" from the United States.