President Donald Trump stated on Friday that the United States is not pursuing regime change in Venezuela, despite escalating military actions in the Caribbean. This announcement comes as the U.S. ordered ten additional F-35 stealth fighter jets to bolster its military presence in the region.
Trump was responding to Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro’s claims that the U.S. was threatening military intervention to change his government. Maduro described the recent Venezuelan election as "strange" and criticized U.S. intentions, urging the government to respect Venezuela’s sovereignty and to abandon plans for violent regime change.
In a show of military might, Trump recently authorized a U.S. military strike that resulted in the deaths of eleven people and the sinking of a boat allegedly involved in drug trafficking. Reports suggest that the Trump administration is considering further strikes against drug cartel targets within Venezuela, which would mark a significant escalation in U.S. military involvement.
The deployment of the F-35s to an airfield in Puerto Rico is part of a broader strategy to combat drug trafficking in the Caribbean. The U.S. military presence in the area has been described as substantial, with multiple warships already deployed. This buildup follows accusations from the Pentagon that Venezuelan fighter jets conducted provocative flights near a U.S. Navy destroyer.
Trump has warned that if U.S. forces feel threatened, they have the authorization to shoot down Venezuelan jets. He has consistently linked Maduro’s government to drug trafficking, an allegation that Maduro denies. Trump specifically accused Maduro of being connected to the Tren de Aragua gang, which the U.S. designated as a terrorist organization earlier this year.
The deaths of many Americans due to drug overdoses were compared by Trump to casualties in war, justifying the military actions in the Caribbean. He emphasized the urgency of addressing the drug crisis, stating, "We’re not going to allow it to happen."
The situation remains tense as the U.S. military prepares for its new deployment of F-35s, expected to arrive in the region by late next week. The aircraft are designed for advanced combat and could pose a significant threat to Venezuela’s air force, which includes F-16 jets.
