U.S. F-35 jets land in Puerto Rico amid tensions with Venezuela
The Caribbean is once again at the centre of rising tensions between the United States and Venezuela. On Saturday, five U.S. Marine Corps F-35 fighter jets landed at the former Roosevelt Roads military base in Ceiba, Puerto Rico, marking a significant reinforcement of Washington’s military presence in the region.
The Pentagon insists the deployment is aimed at combating drug trafficking, part of an expanded strategy ordered by President Donald Trump since August. However, in Caracas, the move is being interpreted as a direct threat. President Nicolás Maduro has accused Washington of fabricating a “war scenario” to justify regime change in Venezuela.
The new arrival coincided with fresh accusations from Venezuela’s government, which denounced the interception of a Venezuelan fishing vessel by a U.S. Navy destroyer. According to Caracas, the USS Jason Dunham detained the crew of nine for eight hours in what Foreign Minister Yván Gil called a “hostile and illegal” act.
Images of the F-35s in Puerto Rico, captured by Reuters, highlighted the unprecedented deployment. Washington is expected to station up to ten of the stealth aircraft on the island, alongside naval forces already patrolling near Venezuelan waters—including eight missile-equipped warships and a nuclear-powered submarine.
While U.S. officials maintain the buildup is focused on counter-narcotics, Venezuelan leaders argue the timing and scale of the operation signal preparation for direct confrontation. The dispute also comes after a U.S. strike on a vessel allegedly carrying drugs from Venezuela, which left 11 people dead earlier this month.
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Caracas has called on the international community to condemn what it describes as escalating U.S. aggression, warning that the situation risks destabilising the wider Caribbean. Washington has not yet responded publicly to the latest accusations.
This story is written and edited by the Global South World team, you can contact us here.
