The Intelligence from The Economist Getting their ships together: America in the Caribbean
9 snips
Nov 4, 2025 
Shashank Joshi, Defence editor at The Economist, dives into the US naval buildup in the Caribbean, analyzing its implications for Venezuela. He discusses Trump’s stance on Maduro and the credibility of US airstrikes targeting drug trafficking. Joshi evaluates the firepower deployed and the risks of mission creep amidst the administration’s mixed messages on foreign entanglements. Additionally, the podcast features Salman Rushdie, who reflects on humor as a form of resistance and critiques current political cult dynamics.
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Unprecedented Naval Buildup In The Caribbean
- The US has concentrated the largest naval force in the Caribbean since the Cuban missile crisis, signaling serious intent.
- That buildup includes carriers, destroyers, and potentially 180 Tomahawk missiles once USS Gerald R. Ford arrives.
Venezuela's Drugs Link Is Overstated
- The Trump administration paints Nicolás Maduro as a drugs-linked autocrat but experts view the drugs link skeptically.
- Venezuela is mainly a transit route and not a primary source of fentanyl into the US.
Pressure Rather Than Full-Scale Invasion
- The US appears to be using pressure, covert actions and possible limited strikes rather than full invasion to remove Maduro.
- Options include covert CIA operations, targeted strikes on drug facilities, or creating conditions for a coup or resignation.
