F-35 Stealth Jets Deployed to Puerto Rico Amid Rising Caribbean Tensions

 On September 5, 2025, ten F-35 stealth fighter jets were deployed by the United States to Puerto Rico to support and enhance counter-narcotics operations in the Caribbean.

On September 2, 2025, the United States Navy launched an airstrike on a vessel in the southern Caribbean. U.S. officials reported that the ship was operated by the Venezuelan gang Tren de Aragua and was carrying narcotics. The strike resulted in 11 casualties.

The targeted vessel was reportedly transporting drugs near international waters south of Puerto Rico. U.S. authorities confirmed that precision-guided munitions were used during the operation. President Donald Trump characterized the strike as a significant action against the gang, and the Pentagon released footage showing the attack and the destruction of the ship.

Amid rising tensions, the U.S. has deployed ten F-35 stealth fighter jets to Puerto Rico to strengthen counter-narcotics operations in the Caribbean. This step followed a provocative maneuver by two Venezuelan F-16 fighter jets, which flew near a U.S. Navy destroyer in international waters, described by the Pentagon as a “highly provocative move.”

The Trump administration has further intensified its military operations in the region by designating the Venezuelan Cartel of the Suns as a terrorist organization and increasing the reward for the capture of President Nicolás Maduro to $50 million. These measures are part of a broader U.S. effort to combat drug trafficking while asserting influence in Latin America.

Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro has called for dialogue with Washington, urging a peaceful resolution to the escalating situation.
The circumstances remain tense, with both nations on high alert and international observers closely watching developments.

Additional Deployment Information
Naval Presence
• Date: August 28, 2025
• Details: Three Aegis guided-missile destroyers (USS Gravely, USS Jason Dunham, USS Sampson), along with additional vessels including USS Lake Erie and USS Fort Lauderdale, were deployed near Puerto Rico.

Troop Deployment
• Date: August 14, 2025
• Details: 4,500 U.S. Marines and Navy personnel, including the 22nd Marine Expeditionary Unit (MEU), were stationed in the Caribbean.

Operational Plans
• Date: September 2, 2025
• Details: U.S. authorities announced intentions to conduct additional airstrikes against groups engaged in drug trafficking.

Details of the Airstrike
• Date: September 2, 2025
• Details: The U.S. airstrike destroyed a vessel carrying narcotics linked to the Venezuelan gang Tren de Aragua, resulting in 11 deaths. Video footage of the strike was released by the Pentagon, though Venezuelan authorities disputed the claims, asserting that the video was fabricated.

These actions highlight the expanded scope of U.S. military strategy in the Caribbean, emphasizing its focus on combating drug trafficking.

 

STANCE:

Pete Hegseth, U.S. Secretary of Defense, reiterated that the United States has "full and absolute authority" to eliminate suspected drug traffickers. He described the airstrike as necessary for the protection of the American public and warned that such operations would continue (Independent, September 6, 2025).

Marco Rubio, U.S. Secretary of State, confirmed that additional airstrikes by the United States would follow. He characterized the operation as a clear message to Venezuelan government elements involved in drug trafficking (The Guardian, September 6, 2025).

Gustavo Petro, President of Colombia, condemned the strike, stating that it violated international law and described the action as illegal and unnecessary (Mexico Solidarity, September 6, 2025).

The Iranian Ambassador to Geneva denounced the strike as "illegal and aggressive," asserting that the operation violated the United Nations Charter (The Jerusalem Post, September 6, 2025).

Kamla Persad-Bissessar, Prime Minister of Trinidad and Tobago, praised the U.S. strike and stated that similar operations against drug traffickers should continue (Yahoo News, September 6, 2025).

 

QUESTIONS:

We do appreciate if you would answer the following question/s with reference of question number/s in the comments section:

Q. No. 1 What specific types and quantities of narcotics were on board the Venezuelan vessel targeted in the airstrike?

Q. No. 2 Were there any casualties among the U.S. personnel involved in the airstrike or deployments?

Q. No. 3 How has the international community, including the United Nations or neighboring countries, officially reacted to these U.S. military actions?

Q. No. 4 What are the long-term strategic objectives of the U.S. in the Caribbean beyond counter-narcotics operations?

Q. No. 5 How has the Venezuelan military responded to the airstrike and subsequent U.S. deployments?

Q. No. 6 Are there any plans for diplomatic negotiations or treaties following the heightened military activity in the region?

Q. No. 7 What intelligence sources did the U.S. rely on to identify the cartel vessel for the airstrike?

 

BACKGROUND:

The recent U.S. airstrike in the southern Caribbean targeting a Venezuelan cartel vessel is the culmination of escalating tensions related to drug trafficking in the region. For years, Venezuela has been a hub for organized criminal networks, particularly the Cartel of the Suns and Tren de Aragua, which have been involved in large-scale cocaine and other narcotics smuggling operations directed toward North America and Europe. The Trump administration, seeking to curb the flow of illegal drugs and assert U.S. influence in Latin America, intensified surveillance and military readiness in the Caribbean. Provocative actions, including Venezuelan military aircraft flying close to U.S. naval vessels, heightened concerns about regional security and the potential for drug shipments to evade law enforcement. These circumstances prompted the U.S. to conduct precision airstrikes as part of a broader counter-narcotics strategy that combines aerial, naval, and ground forces to dismantle trafficking networks, disrupt cartel operations, and signal a strong stance against criminal organizations operating in international waters.

 

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