A week ago, the U.S. military used missiles to sink a drug trafficker speedboat in the Caribbean Sea. Over the past week, the United States has been continuously reinforcing its forces in the Caribbean region, including deploying F-35 fighter jets and MQ-9 Reaper drones.
Furthermore, the U.S. Secretary of Defense, also known as the new Secretary of War, Heges, arrived at the USS Sulphur Island, an amphibious assault ship, aboard a U.S. Marine Corps MV-22 Osprey tiltrotor aircraft.
Currently, the USS Sulphur Island amphibious assault ship and two other San Antonio-class dock landing ships are participating in anti-drug operations in the Caribbean Sea. The deployment location is approximately 30 miles south of Puerto Rico, about 700 kilometers from Venezuela, reachable by an hour’s flight on an Osprey tiltrotor aircraft.
Heges’ visit was welcomed by the Governor of Puerto Rico. Puerto Rico mainly uses Spanish, but their Governor, Jennifer González, is the leader of the Conservative Party in Puerto Rico. She expressed her honor in welcoming Secretary of War Heges and General Dan Kane, Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, to visit Puerto Rico, stating, “We proudly support America’s priority policies to ensure our border security and combat illegal activities.”
Heges delivered a speech to hundreds of Marine Corps personnel on the USS Sulphur Island, emphasizing that this is not just training but actual operations.
Following his visit to the USS Sulphur Island, Heges flew by plane to an Air Force base in Puerto Rico to address hundreds of soldiers. Let’s take a look at what he specifically said.
In the background of the video, a U.S. Navy P-8 Poseidon anti-submarine reconnaissance aircraft can be seen. Although the P-8 Poseidon is designed for anti-submarine warfare, its powerful radar and sensors enable monitoring of all movements above and below the sea surface.
Additionally, footage from San Juan, the capital of Puerto Rico, shows at least four U.S. Marine Corps V-22 Osprey tiltrotor aircraft flying overhead, conducting military exercises.
Last month, I attended the New York Air Show and experienced the awe-inspiring sight of Osprey tiltrotor aircraft flying overhead. The Osprey tiltrotor aircraft is large in size, and when it flies over and hovers above you, you can feel the roar of its engines and the strong airflow.
Another video depicts a U.S. C-17 Globemaster III transport plane landing at Hernandez Airport in Puerto Rico.
The C-17 is the most powerful transport aircraft in the U.S. arsenal, officially entering service in 1995. With a maximum takeoff weight of 265 tons and a maximum payload of 77 tons, it can transport an M1A2 main battle tank, three armored vehicles, six Humvees, deploy 102 paratroopers, or carry 134 troops. Its notable feature is the ability to take off and land on runways as short as 1000 meters, making it ideal for frontline supply missions. The C-17 is the world’s most powerful and the U.S.’s most important transport aircraft, with over 220 units produced. The presence of C-17 in Puerto Rico signifies the U.S. military’s mobilization of more military resources to the frontlines.
Furthermore, online videos show the U.S. Navy conducting military exercises on Punta Gorda Beach in Puerto Rico, with the appearance of the LCAC air-cushioned landing craft. The LCAC is a core equipment for the U.S. Marine Corps’ amphibious operations, utilizing large air cushions at the bottom to hover above the water surface. This allows it to glide at high speeds on the sea, in shallow waters, and even on mudflats. In essence, it is a type of air-cushioned boat designed to transport soldiers, vehicles, and equipment directly to beaches or frontlines.
The LCAC entered service in 1986, with a displacement of 180 tons and a payload of up to 75 tons. It can transport an M1A2 main battle tank or four LAV-25 armored vehicles, reaching an impressive maximum speed of 40 knots and a range of over 200 nautical miles. Typically carried by amphibious assault ships, like the USS Sulphur Island, which can hold a maximum of four LCACs.
Another scene shows an LCAC landing at the shore while five helicopters fly overhead. From their silhouette, these helicopters appear to be U.S. Navy MH-60 Seahawk helicopters, part of the U.S. Navy’s Helicopter Sea Combat Squadron 26.
In addition, a Reuters picture shows a U.S. MQ-9 Reaper unmanned aerial vehicle carrying Hellfire missiles at Hernandez Airport in Puerto Rico. During the elimination of a drug trafficker speedboat on September 3 by the U.S. Navy, it is likely that the Reaper drone was deployed, launching missiles to sink the speedboat.
In fact, in recent months, the U.S. has deployed MQ-9 Reaper drones near Mexico to conduct reconnaissance and combat local drug trafficking groups.
The MQ-9, also known as the Reaper drone, is larger than the MQ-1 Predator, with a wingspan of about 20 meters and equipped with six missile hardpoints. It can carry multiple AGM-114 Hellfire missiles or small bombs, with a total payload of about 1,700 kilograms. The MQ-9 can stay airborne for extended periods, flying continuously for over 14 hours. Cruising at a speed of around 300 kilometers per hour, it can operate at altitudes of up to 15,000 meters.
The MQ-9 is the most experienced operational drone currently. Its most renowned mission was the assassination of Iranian General Soleimani in January 2020, where the U.S. used the MQ-9 to target and launch missiles accurately at Soleimani’s convoy in Baghdad International Airport. The MQ-9 can be used for precision strikes against enemy leaders, causing figures like Maduro in Venezuela to be uneasy upon seeing the drone, potentially becoming the next target for the MQ-9.
Aside from the MQ-9, the U.S. Air Force even deployed the most advanced F-35 fighter jets to Puerto Rico. The U.S. military stated that ten F-35 fighter jets were ordered to fly to Puerto Rico for the mission. The F-35 is the U.S.’s most advanced fifth-generation fighter jet, featuring exceptional stealth capabilities and equipped with advanced radars and electro-optical systems to detect enemies from hundreds of kilometers away. With its extensive combat experience, Israeli F-35s conducted bombing missions inside Syria a few years ago. Back then, despite Syria’s Assad regime having Russian S-300 air defense systems, they were unable to detect the U.S. F-35.
In June this year, Israel once again deployed F-35s in their conflict with Iran. Israel utilized F-35s and F-15 fighter jets to repeatedly enter Iranian airspace, destroying several military bases, national TV stations, the Defense Ministry, and other key structures within Iran, with no losses on the Israeli side.
Subsequently, in the midnight “Hammer Operation,” the U.S. deployed F-35s to escort B-2 bombers. The B-2 took off from Missouri, crossed half the globe, entered the Middle East through the Mediterranean, passed through Iraq, and arrived in Iran. Under the escort of F-35s, the B-2 dropped massive bunker buster bombs on two crucial nuclear facilities in Iran, completely destroying the Fordow nuclear facility.
It is believed that Venezuelan leader Maduro, upon hearing about the deployment of F-35s to Puerto Rico, is deeply unsettled. With the Venezuelan Air Force mainly equipped with 40-year-old, first-generation F-16s and Su-30s acquired from Russia, they are completely outmatched by the U.S. F-35s.
In addition, Maduro has mobilized millions of militia members and recently organized a large number of fishing boats and yachts along the Venezuelan coast. The Venezuelan Naval force is quite weak, primarily consisting of three Wolf-class frigates acquired from Italy and a Type 209 submarine from Germany. The U.S. Navy could easily overpower the Venezuelan Navy with just one Burke-class destroyer.
Furthermore, recently, two Venezuelan Air Force F-16s conducted low-level flights near the U.S. Navy Arleigh Burke-class guided-missile destroyer, USS Donald. Trump responded that the U.S. Navy can handle any threats posed by Venezuelan aircraft.
The U.S. has strengthened its military deployments in the Caribbean region, leaving many wondering if the U.S. will engage in strikes against Venezuelan drug trafficking organizations on their soil. When asked by journalists recently, President Trump responded, “You’ll soon find out.”
Currently, the U.S. continues to enhance its military assets in the Caribbean region. The Navy has deployed at least eight warships in the Caribbean, including the USS Sulphur Island amphibious assault ship and two additional San Antonio-class dock landing ships. Furthermore, the U.S. Navy has deployed a Los Angeles-class attack nuclear submarine Newport News, a Ticonderoga-class cruiser, USS Erie, and three Arleigh Burke-class guided-missile destroyers.
The Marine Corps has deployed over 2,000 troops, while the air assets include F-35 fighter jets, P-8 anti-submarine patrol aircraft, and MQ-9 Reaper drones.
It is apparent that Venezuela is facing significant military pressure. As for whether the U.S. will strike the Venezuelan regime or conduct airstrikes on Venezuelan soil, the situation remains to be observed.