The U.S. military mobilization includes fifth-generation F-35 fighter jets and the USS Iwo Jima amphibious assault ship, carrying attack helicopters and the 22nd Marine Expeditionary Unit. President Trump has also alluded to the possibility of ground incursions against cartel units. In response, Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro is contemplating the declaration of a “state of external commotion,” an emergency constitutional provision that could lead to the suspension of civil liberties and elections. This volatile situation presents a grave threat to regional stability. Furthermore, it raises concerns in neighboring countries like Brazil, which fears the potential for the conflict to expand and encompass its own powerful criminal organizations, potentially leading to U.S. sanctions and further destabilization.