Economist Podcasts Getting their ships together: America in the Caribbean
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Nov 4, 2025 
Shashank Joshi, Defence editor at The Economist, dives into America's significant military buildup in the Caribbean, examining its strategic implications and motivations. He unpacks the Trump administration's approach to Venezuela, including the rhetoric around Maduro and the complexities of potential military action. The discussion raises questions about the administration's pivot to foreign entanglements, contrasting with earlier promises of non-involvement, revealing deeper strategic incoherence in US foreign policy.
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Largest Caribbean Naval Buildup Since 1962
- The US has amassed the biggest naval force in the Caribbean since the Cuban missile crisis, signalling major military capacity near Venezuela.
- Shashank Joshi warns this includes carriers, destroyers and possibly 180 Tomahawk missiles once USS Gerald R. Ford arrives.
Venezuela's Drug Link Is Tenuous
- The Trump administration frames Maduro as both an autocrat and a drug kingpin, but experts view the drugs link skeptically.
- Joshi emphasises Venezuela is mainly a transit point, not the primary source of US fentanyl.
Multiple Motives Behind U.S. Pressure
- Multiple motives could drive US pressure: covert action, coercion to force Maduro out, or limited strikes against traffickers.
- Joshi notes limited strikes could hit airstrips or production sites but likely won't solve America's drug problem.
