Ten F-35 fighter jets have been deployed to Puerto Rico as part of a U.S. military operation targeting drug cartels in the Caribbean. The move follows a recent strike on a Venezuelan drug ship and comes after two armed Venezuelan F-16 fighter jets approached a U.S. Navy destroyer in the region, described by officials as a “highly provocative move.”
The Department of Defense warned Venezuela’s leadership to cease efforts to interfere with U.S. counter-narcotics and counter-terror operations. Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro accused President Trump of planning “regime change” in Latin America, a claim Trump denied, stating the U.S. focus remains on combating drug trafficking rather than political intervention.
Trump highlighted the U.S. military’s readiness to act against cartel networks, citing a recent strike that killed 11 people and destroyed a Venezuelan vessel linked to narcotics smuggling. The administration is considering further strikes inside Venezuela, according to reports.
Meanwhile, the USS Iwo Jima, equipped with F-35B jets, has been positioned near the region as part of a broader military buildup. Venezuelan air defenses, consisting of 13 F-16s and 21 outdated Su-30MK2s, are seen as vulnerable to U.S. stealth technology.
The deployment follows earlier U.S. naval activity in August, including three Aegis-guided missile destroyers stationed near Venezuela. A separate incident involved Venezuelan fighter jets flying over a U.S. destroyer, prompting questions about the response from American forces.