The United States has reportedly deployed F-35 stealth fighter jets to Puerto Rico as President Donald Trump considers potential military strikes on drug cartels inside Venezuela, a move that is escalating already strained tensions with Caracas.
According to US defense sources, 10 F-35 warplanes are being stationed in Puerto Rico to support expanded anti-drug operations. Washington has designated several Latin American cartels as “narco-terrorist” groups, alleging they have ties to Venezuela’s leadership.
This deployment is happening alongside a significant buildup of US naval forces in the southern Caribbean, which includes at least seven warships, 4,500 sailors and Marines, and a nuclear-powered submarine. While officials claim these measures are aimed at curbing narcotics trafficking, they are also widely seen as a message to Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro.
Trump Administration Considers Military Action
Citing multiple sources, CNN has reported that the Trump administration is weighing the possibility of direct military strikes against drug trafficking groups within Venezuela. Such an action would represent a dramatic escalation, raising concerns of a potential confrontation in the region. On Tuesday, US forces destroyed a speedboat in the Caribbean, which Trump claimed belonged to Tren de Aragua, a Venezuelan criminal group he has linked to Maduro. The strike resulted in the deaths of 11 people and was condemned by Caracas as an “extrajudicial killing.” The legitimacy of the attack has also been questioned by legal experts under international law.
Maduro’s Response to the Escalation
Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro urged Washington on Friday to “abandon its plan of violent regime change in Venezuela and in all of Latin America.” He stated, “I respect Trump. None of the differences we’ve had can lead to a military conflict,” while emphasizing that Venezuela remains open to dialogue. However, he also mobilized the country’s 340,000-strong armed forces, along with militia members and reservists, claiming the total force exceeds eight million personnel. Earlier this week, he warned that if Venezuela were attacked, the nation would “immediately enter a period of armed struggle.”
Tense Encounters at Sea and in the Air
The Pentagon accused Caracas of a “highly provocative” maneuver on Thursday, when two Venezuelan F-16 fighter jets reportedly flew near the guided-missile destroyer USS Jason Dunham. In response, Trump warned that any Venezuelan aircraft that threatens US naval assets would be “shot down.” “The military has the authorization,” Trump told reporters. “If they put us in a dangerous position, they’ll be shot down.” Secretary of State Marco Rubio, speaking in Mexico, backed the hardline stance, saying: “What will stop them is when you blow them up, when you get rid of them.” He argued that only decisive military action could effectively weaken drug cartels tied to Venezuela.
