The U.S. Navy warship USS Lake Erie makes it means by way of the Pedro Miguel Locks of the Panama Canal, in Panama City on Friday, August 29, 2025.
| Photo Credit: AP
A U.S. guided missile cruiser, USS Lake Erie, was seen crossing the Panama Canal from the Pacific to the Caribbean on Friday (August 29, 2025) evening, after the Trump administration deployed warships close to the coast of Venezuela.
AFP journalists noticed the naval vessel passing by way of one of many canal’s locks at round 9:30 p.m. (0230 GMT Saturday) and navigating east toward the Atlantic.
The United States has mentioned the deployment of warships to the southern Caribbean, close to Venezuela’s territorial waters, was an anti-drug trafficking operation.
“I didn’t know the ship was going to pass… I was surprised,” Alfredo Cedeno, a 32-year-old well being technician, who took photographs of the cruiser, instructed AFP.
The Lake Erie had been moored for the previous two days on the Port of Rodman, on the canal’s Pacific entrance.
Washington has accused Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro of main a drug cartel and has doubled the bounty for his seize to $50 million.
The United States has, nevertheless, made no public risk to invade Venezuela.
Caracas introduced on Monday the deployment of 15,000 safety forces to the Colombian border for anti-drug trafficking operations.
A day later, Venezuela introduced that it will patrol its territorial waters with drones and navy ships.
Mr. Maduro additionally claimed to have mobilized greater than 4 million militia members in response to U.S. “threats.”
The 567-foot-long (173 meters) USS Lake Erie displaces 9,800 tons and relies within the port of San Diego, California.
Published – August 30, 2025 11:45 am IST