Latin America

I wouldn't be surprised if it's counter-drone systems that are in their ships," he added. He says the US may be worried about the risk of Venezuelan drones being used to gather intelligence or the potential for kamikaze attacks on US warships. "I can't say for certain... but if you think about what the Russians have been using, if you think about what the Iranians have - the stuff is out there and it is available from Venezuela's allies."

Drones dropping bombs is now a trend used by heavily armed criminal groups,” says Dr Carlos Solar from the Royal United Services Institute. The cartels are buying civilian drones from the open market and then adapting them to fight against competing gangs and law enforcement, he says. “They are forcing the state police and armies to integrate counter-drone attack strategies” at a time when the Brazilian government is tightened austerity measures."

One scenario is Trump authorises a round of long-range precision attacks in Venezuela's territory linked to drug trafficking operations ... If the US decides to move more strongly, destroying all critical military targets from the Venezuelan forces, then the US could have Maduro surrender and leave the country immediately. This would be the least disruptive without causing greater destabilisation of the country."