CARACAS, Venezuela (AP) -- Venezuela's navy is taking a close look at the American military presence on the nearby island of Curacao to determine the intention of U.S. operations there, Venezuela's navy commander said Monday.

Navy Cmdr. Armando Laguna said the Venezuelan navy was "taking precautions" as it observes the presence of U.S. Marines, along with military planes and amphibious vehicles on the Caribbean island. He did not provide details regarding what measures the navy was taking.

Laguna told the state-run television channel the navy "detected a series of (military) units" on the island, located roughly 46 miles (75 kilometers) northeast of Venezuela's Paraguana Peninsula.

"We took precautions to determine what the intention is," said Laguna, adding that the U.S. Navy often carries out exercises in southern Caribbean but failed to notify Venezuela's military on this occasion.

There was no immediate comment from the U.S. Embassy in Caracas.

Tensions between Caracas and Washington have increased in recent weeks due to accusations by Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez that the United States is trying to isolate Venezuela from its Latin American neighbors by attempting to portray him as a tyrant and a threat to the region.

Officials in Washington have rejected accusations that George. W. Bush's administration is seeking to isolate Venezuela, the world's fifth largest oil exporter and a major fuel supplier to the United States.

Last week, Venezuela's top diplomat took Chavez's allegations against the United States to the Organization of American States, indirectly accusing Washington of repeatedly violating Venezuelan sovereignty.

Without mentioning the United States by name, Foreign Minister Ali Rodriguez Araque said his government's intelligence agencies have evidence suggesting an attempt to "physically liquidate" left-leaning Chavez.

Chavez and Cuban President Fidel Castro have both accused the United States of trying to assassinate the Venezuelan leader, who has repeatedly criticized Washington of hegemony in world affairs -- accusations that the U.S. State Department calls ridiculous.

Copyright 2005 The Associated Press.