US Navy Destroyer USS Sampson docked in Panama amid regional tensions with Venezuela

PANAMA CITY, PANAMA - SEPTEMBER 02: The USS Sampson (DDG 102), a U.S. Navy missile destroyer, docks at the Amador International Cruise Terminal in Panama City, Panama, on September 02, 2025. The deployment comes amid a broader U.S. naval presence in Latin American and Caribbean waters following President Donald Trump's order last month to take action against Latin American drug cartels, which he has labeled as terrorist organizations. The announcement heightens regional tensions, particularly with Venezuela, whose president, Nicolas Maduro, the U.S. accuses of links to at least two cartels: El Tren de Aragua and Los Soles. (Photo by Daniel Gonzalez/Anadolu via Getty Images)