00:00New tensions in the Caribbean this morning as Venezuela accuses the United States of a hostile seizure.
00:09Venezuela's foreign minister claims Americans from a U.S. Navy destroyer illegally boarded a tuna fishing vessel with nine crewmen, calling it a provocation.
00:19He displayed photos. You see it there? He claims they show U.S. sailors on the vessel and the USS Jason Dunham.
00:26But a U.S. official tells ABC News the boarding was part of a drug search based on a tip.
00:32A Coast Guard team embedded on the destroyer inspected the boat, found no contraband, and insists it only took minutes, not eight hours.
00:40The official also said the vessel was in international waters.
00:44The clash comes amid a string of incidents.
00:47Earlier this month, the Pentagon said Venezuelan fighter jets flew dangerously close to the same U.S. warship.
00:54And President Trump recently announced a strike on a drug boat from Venezuela killed 11 narco-terrorists from the gang Tren de Aragua.
01:03Caracas calls that a lie.
01:06In response, Venezuela is launching large-scale militia training.
01:10Video shows armed volunteers, some senior citizens, handling rifles, even heavy artillery.
01:16The country's defense minister says the exercises are about, quote, preparing to defend peace against any U.S. incursion.
01:24Nicolas Maduro is set to speak later today.
01:27Meantime, Reuters is reporting five U.S. F-35 stealth jets have landed in Puerto Rico,
01:33part of a deployment of 10 ordered by Donald Trump to target drug cartels.
01:38The Pentagon won't confirm details, but says no forced posture change is being announced.
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