Venezuela has responded to a recent U.S. military action by sending two fighter jets over a U.S. Navy destroyer. This incident occurred on Thursday as the USS Jason Dunham was conducting anti-drug patrols off the Venezuelan coast. The Venezuelan F-16s flew over the ship in what U.S. officials described as a “show of force.”
In response, the U.S. ramped up its military presence in the region. On Friday, the Pentagon announced it would deploy ten F-35 fighter jets to Puerto Rico to bolster operations against drug trafficking. The Defense Department issued a warning via social media, stating that the Venezuelan aircraft’s actions were provocative and aimed at disrupting U.S. counter-narcotics efforts.
The tensions escalated after the U.S. conducted a strike against a suspected drug smuggling vessel earlier in the week. Secretary of State Marco Rubio confirmed that the operation, which took place in the southern Caribbean, resulted in the deaths of 11 individuals aboard the boat. This vessel was reportedly linked to a designated narco-terrorist group operating out of Venezuela.
These military moves come amid rising tensions between the U.S. and Venezuela’s President Nicolás Maduro. In August, President Trump took significant steps against Maduro’s regime, freezing Venezuelan government assets and offering a $50 million bounty for Maduro, labeling him a global drug trafficker. In retaliation, Maduro mobilized over 15,000 troops along the Colombian border, asserting that the U.S. could not invade Venezuela.
The backdrop of this conflict includes a long-standing indictment from the U.S. Department of Justice against Maduro and several officials for charges related to drug trafficking and corruption. The allegations suggest Maduro has been involved in a partnership with the FARC, a former guerrilla group, to smuggle cocaine into the U.S.
As the situation develops, both countries remain on high alert, with military posturing indicating that the conflict over drug trafficking and national security is far from resolved.
