It's confirmed: US Warships departed; A nuclear submarine was also sent PHOTO

 The Trump administration has accused Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro of collaborating with drug cartels and trafficking cocaine.

In early August, the US doubled the reward for information leading to his arrest - from $25 million to $50 million, calling him one of the biggest drug dealers in the world.

In response, Maduro called on citizens to join the state police, saying: "No empire will touch the sacred soil of Venezuela."

Deployment of US forces

According to Reuters, the US Aegis-class destroyers are already in the southern Caribbean, while the USS Lake Erie, a guided missile cruiser, and the USS Newport News, a fast nuclear submarine, are on the way.

They are expected to arrive early next week.

Three large ships were also sent to the region: "USS San Antonio", "USS Iwo Jima" and "USS Fort Lauderdale", which are transporting about 4,500 American soldiers, including 2,200 marines.

Although the specific objectives of the mission have not been announced, sources for Reuters claim that it is about operations against the so-called "narco-terrorist organizations" that Washington sees as a threat to national security.

Caracas strikes back

Venezuelan authorities have announced that they are sending 15,000 soldiers to the border with Colombia to strengthen the fight against drug trafficking.

Defense Minister Vladimir Padrino López announced the deployment of drones, as well as naval patrols along the Caribbean coast.

Senior official Diosdado Cabello said Caracas is waging a war against the cartels "on all fronts."

Official positions

White House spokeswoman Karoline Leavitt said on August 19 that Trump is "very clear and consistent":

"He is prepared to use every element of American power to stop the drug inundation of our country and bring those responsible to justice."

The US still does not recognize Maduro's rule, while Maduro himself rejects Washington's accusations and accuses the US of ignoring its own drug problems.

The Venezuelan mission to the UN sent a letter condemning the "escalation of hostile actions and threats" and asking for guarantees that the US "will not deploy or threaten to use nuclear weapons in the region."