The USCGC James was first noticed by the Venezuelan armed forces on Wednesday. On Thursday, a Venezuelan patrol ship approached the US vessel and convinced it to change course.
"After our radio communications, the USCG James became convinced in the necessity to change its course and left our waters", the Navy said in a statement.
The USCGC James belongs to the United States Coast Guard. Some netizens have tracked the alleged presence of the US vessel in Venezuelan waters.
El buque Guarda Costas de EEUU el USCGC James (WMSL-754) navegó en la zona económica exclusiva de Venezuela frente a Chuao, Aragua. El buque posee un helicóptero y drones #10May#Venezuelapic.twitter.com/v6aVdecYCa
— GuanábanaVen (@GuanabanaVen) 10 мая 2019 г.
US Southern Command (SOCOM) said in a statement on Tuesday that the US Navy hospital ship Comfort will be deployed next month to the Western Hemisphere to provide support for regional countries in response of the crisis in Venezuela.
READ MORE: US Navy to Deploy Hospital Ship in Response to Venezuela Crisis — Pentagon
SOCOM did not specify, however, which countries the Comfort would visit but said details would be announced at a later time. SOCOM said the hospital ship would be deployed to the Caribbean, Central America and South America to conduct humanitarian medical assistance missions.
Tensions in Venezuela reached a new peak late April after the Venezuelan opposition initiated a fresh coup attempt to ouster constitutionally-elected Maduro, which eventually failed.
READ MORE: Guaido Says He Might Agree to US Military Intervention To Solve Venezuela Crisis