STORY: Along the sun-soaked beaches of La Guaira, north-central Venezuela, Venezuelan families splashed in the waves and fishermen cast their lines on Friday (September 5), seemingly oblivious to the escalating military tensions in nearby Caribbean waters where U.S. warships have been conducting operations against drug cartels.

The U.S. has deployed warships and increased military operations in the southern Caribbean and this week, a U.S. strike on an alleged drug boat from Venezuela killed 11 people, marking the first such incident since the naval buildup began.

Despite the mounting international pressure, Venezuelans maintained their daily routines with remarkable calm.

"The issue is that there's a psychological bombardment on TikTok and social media, and that's not really what's happening," said graphic artist Aurelio Leon, relaxing with his family on the beach.

Tensions between the United States and Venezuela have risen in recent weeks amid a large U.S. naval buildup in the Southern Caribbean and nearby waters, which U.S. officials say aims to address threats from Latin American drug cartels.

For ordinary workers like Willy Albornoz, the geopolitical drama feels distant from their daily concerns. "Whether there is a ship or not, we don't know because we are ordinary workers who walk around here," he said. "We don't know what's going on over there."

President Donald Trump has made cracking down on drug cartels a central goal of his administration, part of a wider effort to limit migration and secure the U.S. southern border.

According to U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio, the campaign is part of a sustained effort to disrupt drug trafficking routes, even as Venezuela denies any involvement in the incident.

DESCRIPCIÓN DE IMÁGENES

SHOWS: LA GUAIRA, VENEZUELA (SEPTEMBER 5, 2025) (REUTERS - Access all)

1. VARIOUS OF LANDSCAPE OF HOUSES, BUILDINGS, ROAD, AND THE SEA

2. PEOPLE ON BOAT AND MAN FISHING IN THE BACKGROUND

3. MAN FISHING

4. VARIOUS OF PEOPLE AT BEACH

5. (SOUNDBITE) (Spanish) GRAPHIC ARTIST, AURELIO LEON, SAYING:

"The issue is that there's a psychological bombardment on TikTok and social media, and that's not really what's happening. If you can see the beach, everything is calm and peaceful; Venezuelans are enjoying themselves. We know there's a moment of tension, but that's not what we really want to convey to the world."

6. LEON WITH HIS FAMILY AT BEACH

7. VARIOUS OF PEOPLE AT BEACH

8. (SOUNDBITE) NURSE, JOHANA SANCHEZ, SAYING:

"We Venezuelans are enjoying ourselves. There is a problem, but it's with the president, not with Venezuelans. You can see how people enjoy their daily lives. They talk about a war, but you can see that everything is normal."

9. VARIOUS OF PEOPLE AT BEACH

10. (SOUNDBITE) (Spanish) SELF-EMPLOYED WORKER, WILLY ALBORNOZ, SAYING:

"Well, whether there is a ship or not, we don't know because we are, as they say, ordinary workers (ordinary citizens) who walk around here. We don't know what's going on over there, we don't know what might happen tomorrow, tonight, we don't know, but since we are ordinary workers, we don't know."

11. VARIOUS OF PEOPLE AT BEACH

12. (SOUNDBITE) (Spanish) STUDENT, VANESSA GARCIA, SAYING:

"Today we are here enjoying a family day at the beach. Everything seems calm, but we are aware of international tensions. Let's hope for the best."

13. VARIOUS OF PEOPLE AT BEACH

14. VARIOUS OF SHIP AT SEA

15. AIRCRAFT FLYING

16. VARIOUS OF LANDSCAPE OF BUILDINGS, ROAD, PORT AND SEA