President Donald Trump is deploying U.S. warships to waters near Venezuela in what he's calling an effort to combat Latin American cartels, officials say. The deployment is also heating existing tension against Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro, whose reelection is widely regarded as illegitimate. The Department of Justice has now doubled a reward for his arrest after the Trump administration accused him of narco-trafficking and working with cartels. Trump has been in favor of using the U.S. military to take down Latin American cartels, which he blames for the entry of illegal drugs into the country. Earlier this year, Trump designated several criminal groups in countries like Venezuela, El Salvador and Mexico as terrorist organizations. Leaders like Mexican President Claudia Sheinbaum have shown themselves hesitant to accept a military intervention by the U.S. Mexico and many countries have strived to hold on to their sovereignty since the end of the Monroe Doctrine, through which the U.S. justified previous interventions in Latin America. Dr. Jesse Acevedo, assistant professor of political science at the University of Denver, breaks down why he expects a widespread rejection of Trump's orders. More local videos here: https://youtube.com/@9news Subscribe to NEXT: https://youtube.com/@Nexton9NEWS Stay connected: 9NEWS Website: https://www.9news.com/ Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/ilike9news X: https://twitter.com/9NEWS Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/9newsdenver/ Download the 9NEWS App: https://www.9news.com/appredirect/ Sign up for the 9NEWSLETTER: https://www.9news.com/email 9NEWS (KUSA) is located in Denver, Colorado.