CARACAS, Venezuela (AFP)-Venezuela said Tuesday it was deploying warships and drones to patrol the country’s coastline after its arch-foe the United States dispatched three destroyers to the region to pressure Venezuela’s strongman President Nicolas Maduro.

In a video on social media, Defence Minister Vladimir Padrino announced a “significant” drone deployment as well as naval patrols along its Caribbean coast, including “larger vessels further north in our territorial waters.”

The move comes amid escalating tensions with Washington, which sent three warships towards Venezuela last week to curb drug trafficking.

Washington is also planning to send 4,000 Marines to the region, US media have reported.

On Tuesday, a US source told AFP that President Donald Trump was dispatching two more ships to the Caribbean to crack down on drug cartels.

A guided missile crusier, the USS Erie, and a nuclear-powered fast attack submarine, the USS Newport News, are due in the region next week, the source familiar with the move told AFP on condition of anonymity.

The United States accuses Maduro of heading a cocaine trafficking cartel, which Washington has designated a terrorist organization.

Washington also recently doubled its bounty for Maduro’s capture on drug charges to $50 million.

Maduro has accused the United States of attempting to effect regime change and launched a drive to sign up thousands of militia members.