A United States guided missile cruiser, USS Lake Erie, was spotted transiting the Panama Canal on Friday night, moving from the Pacific into the Caribbean just days after the Trump administration positioned naval forces near Venezuela’s coastline.
Journalists from AFP confirmed the vessel’s passage through one of the canal’s locks at approximately 9:30 p.m. (0230 GMT Saturday), where it continued its route eastward toward the Atlantic Ocean.
Washington has described the recent deployment of warships in the southern Caribbean, close to Venezuela’s maritime borders, as part of a broader operation targeting drug trafficking in the region.
“I didn’t know the ship was going to pass… I was surprised,” said Alfredo Cedeno, a 32-year-old health technician who photographed the cruiser while it crossed.
Before its transit, USS Lake Erie had been stationed for two days at the Port of Rodman, located at the Pacific entrance of the canal.
The United States has repeatedly accused Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro of running a drug cartel, recently raising the reward for information leading to his capture to $50 million. Despite these accusations, Washington has not issued any public statement suggesting plans for a direct military invasion of Venezuela.
In response, Caracas announced on Monday the deployment of 15,000 security personnel to the Colombian border, also citing anti-narcotics operations. The following day, Venezuela disclosed plans to patrol its waters using drones and navy vessels.
President Maduro further claimed that more than four million militia members had been mobilized across the country in reaction to what he described as US “threats.”
The USS Lake Erie, measuring 567 feet (173 meters) and weighing 9,800 tons, operates from its home port in San Diego, California.
What you should know
The USS Lake Erie, a Ticonderoga-class guided missile cruiser, has become a focal point in rising tensions between Washington and Caracas.
While the US maintains its deployment is aimed at combating narcotics trafficking, Venezuela views the naval movement as a show of force against President Maduro’s government.
