Three people were killed, according to the military's announcement, which didn't provide evidence that the boat was transporting drugs.

Venezuela's President Nicolás Maduro has doubled down on calls for peace as U.S. President Donald Trump reportedly mulls over options for military operations inside the country and places an enormous amount of firepower close to Venezuela's coast.

The White House’s campaign of military pressure on Venezuela seems to be intensifying, yet there’s little clarity on its end goal.

The United States increased pressure on Venezuela over the weekend, saying it will designate Cartel de los Soles as a foreign terrorist organization — a move President Donald Trump suggested could allow the US to target certain assets and infrastructure in the country.

"I can’t tell you what it would be, but I’ve sort of made up my mind," Trump told reporters on Air Force One on Nov. 14.

The USS Gerald R. Ford Carrier Strike Group entered the Caribbean Sea Sunday, adding to a military buildup in the region, as President Donald Trump signaled that he may have decided on a U.S. show of force in Venezuela.