US warship arrives in Trinidad and Tobago, near Venezuela

"A United States warship has arrived in Trinidad and Tobago, an island nation close to Venezuela, as tensions between Washington and Caracas continue to mount. The USS Gravely, a guided-missile destroyer, reached the Trinidadian capital Port of Spain on Sunday with members of the US Marines on board, ahead of planned joint military exercises. list of 3 itemsend of list"

"Its arrival near Venezuela comes as the administration of US President Donald Trump continues to increase the US's military presence in the Caribbean, where it has in recent weeks conducted controversial, deadly strikes against boats that Washington claims are involved in drug trafficking. The standoff between the two countries escalated further on Friday, when the Pentagon confirmed that it was deploying the USS Gerald R Ford, the world's largest aircraft carrier, to the region."

"Venezuela's President Nicolas Maduro, who was re-elected last year in what the US has dismissed as a fraudulent election, accused Washington of fabricating a war against him. Without providing any evidence, the US president has accused Maduro of being the leader of the organised crime gang Tren de Aragua. Reporting from Port of Spain on Sunday, Al Jazeera's Julia Galiano said the Trinidadian government wanted to assure its people that they shouldn't be worried by the warship's arrival."

USS Gravely, a US guided-missile destroyer carrying US Marines, docked in Port of Spain, Trinidad and Tobago ahead of planned joint military exercises. The warship has advanced weapons systems, can operate helicopters, and recently deployed on counter-narcotics operations. Its arrival coincides with an increased US military presence in the Caribbean, including controversial deadly strikes on boats accused of drug trafficking and deployment of the aircraft carrier USS Gerald R Ford. Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro accused Washington of fabricating a war and was accused by the US president of leading the Tren de Aragua gang. Trinidadian officials sought to reassure the public, but local fear and reservations were reported.

Read at www.aljazeera.com