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Senior U.S. military officials held talks<\/a> with the leaders of several Caribbean nations on Wednesday as part of the Trump administration\u2019s growing focus on narcotrafficking operations in Latin America. The meetings also come as U.S. President Donald Trump weighs possible next steps in his pressure campaign against Venezuelan President Nicol\u00e1s Maduro, whom the Trump administration has accused<\/a> of heading a criminal organization that oversees drug smuggling<\/a> into the United States.<\/p>\n U.S. Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth<\/a> met with Dominican President Luis Abinader and Defense Minister Carlos Antonio Fern\u00e1ndez Onofre on Wednesday to \u201cstrengthen defense relationships and reaffirm America\u2019s commitment to defend the homeland.\u201d<\/p>\n<\/p><\/div>\n Senior U.S. military officials held talks<\/a> with the leaders of several Caribbean nations on Wednesday as part of the Trump administration\u2019s growing focus on narcotrafficking operations in Latin America. The meetings also come as U.S. President Donald Trump weighs possible next steps in his pressure campaign against Venezuelan President Nicol\u00e1s Maduro, whom the Trump administration has accused<\/a> of heading a criminal organization that oversees drug smuggling<\/a> into the United States.<\/p>\n U.S. Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth<\/a> met with Dominican President Luis Abinader and Defense Minister Carlos Antonio Fern\u00e1ndez Onofre on Wednesday to \u201cstrengthen defense relationships and reaffirm America\u2019s commitment to defend the homeland.\u201d<\/p>\n That same day, Gen. Dan Caine<\/a>, the chairman of the U.S. Joint Chiefs of Staff, met with Trinidad and Tobago Prime Minister Kamla Persad-Bissessar, during which the two \u201cexchanged views on challenges affecting the Caribbean region, including the destabilizing effects of illicit narcotics, arms, and human trafficking, and transnational criminal organization activities.\u201d This was Caine\u2019s second time visiting the region since the U.S. military kicked off its counter-narcotrafficking operation<\/a> there.<\/p>\n In early September, the United States began launching strikes on alleged drug trafficking boats. Since then, Washington has carried out 21 known attacks on vessels in the Caribbean and eastern Pacific, killing at least 83 people. At the same time, Trump has ordered a massive military buildup<\/a> in the area. Around 15,000 U.S. personnel<\/a> are now deployed in the Caribbean, including around 5,000 service members in Puerto Rico. This is the United States\u2019 largest military presence in the region in decades.<\/p>\n On Tuesday, Trump floated<\/a> potentially holding talks with Maduro to de-escalate tensions. Experts have argued that Trump\u2019s Caribbean operation is part of a larger effort to remove Maduro that could see direct U.S. military action<\/a> against Venezuela.<\/p>\n Read more in today\u2019s World Brief: Top U.S. Military Officials Meet With Caribbean Leaders<\/strong><\/a>.<\/p>\n<\/p><\/div>\n This post is part of FP\u2019s ongoing coverage of the Trump administration<\/i>. <\/i>Follow along here<\/a>.<\/em><\/p>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n