Shocking Revelation! The situation at the US-Venezuela border escalated again as 2 F-18 fighter jets entered and exited the Venezuelan territory. The Ford aircraft carrier mobilized its forces with a full public display of maritime interception operations. Frontline footage leaked for the first time, leaving us wondering when the US will strike Venezuela.
On December 9th, two F-18 Super Hornets of the US Navy flew into the central area of the Gulf of Venezuela and stayed there for 40 minutes. Looking at the map, the Gulf of Venezuela is a relatively small body of water surrounded by Venezuelan territory on three sides, very close to the second-largest city in Venezuela, Maracaibo. This action marks another escalation in the continuous pressure that US President Trump is exerting on Maduro.
Many might wonder if the US fighter jets flew into Venezuelan airspace and why Venezuela did not react. In this operation, the two Super Hornets always remained in international airspace. If we look at the map, the airspace is about 12 nautical miles, roughly 20 kilometers away. While the central area of the Gulf of Venezuela may seem like Venezuelan territory from the map, it still falls within international waters.
However, Venezuela has long claimed the entire gulf to be part of its territorial waters, while the US has questioned this for decades. According to Venezuela’s claims, the US fighter jets have entered Venezuelan airspace, and the Venezuelan military has been unable to respond, highlighting the significant disparity in military capabilities between the two sides. Maduro has limited options in the face of US military pressure.
During this military operation, in addition to the F-18 Super Hornets, two EA-18G Growler electronic warfare aircraft belonging to the Navy hovered over the Caribbean Sea nearby. Around the same time, a Navy MQ-4 “Reaper” drone was also on a mission in the distant Caribbean Sea. Both F-18 Super Hornets and EA-18G Growlers broadcasted their locations to the world during this mission, aiming to show that the US fighter jets had entered deep into Venezuelan territory, and there was nothing others could do about it.
The US deployed the classic combination of F-18 Super Hornets and EA-18G Growlers, with the Super Hornets executing the risky suppression mission on the frontline. The Growler electronic warfare aircraft flew outside Venezuelan airspace to gather electromagnetic signals and provide electronic warfare support in case of any hostilities.
Over the past month, multiple US Navy aircraft have approached the Venezuelan border. According to a map created by a Russian military blogger, from November to December, the US conducted 69 reconnaissance missions and hundreds of fighter jet flights near Venezuela, focusing on targets near the capital Caracas and the second-largest city, Maracaibo. The missions included deployments of F-35 fighter jets 93 times, F-18 Super Hornets 73 times, P-8 “Poseidon” anti-submarine aircraft 31 times, and B-52 strategic bombers 8 times.
A US official told reporters that these were regular operational training flights launched from the Ford aircraft carrier and other training platforms. The flights also aimed to test Venezuela’s sensors and response systems, showcasing US military strength and part of the pressure campaign against Venezuela in the Caribbean region.
Currently, the only aircraft carriers capable of launching F-18 and EA-18G fighter jets near the Caribbean are the latest US supercarrier, the USS Ford. Since entering the Caribbean Sea in November, the USS Ford has been on standby missions in the region.
In early December, the USS Ford briefly stopped at the port of Saint Thomas in the Virgin Islands, east of Puerto Rico and very close to Venezuela. Footage of the USS Ford leaving Saint Thomas port was captured by passengers on a plane.
As of now, the US has assembled over 15,000 military personnel, an aircraft carrier, two cruisers, nearly 10 Arleigh Burke-class destroyers, at least one nuclear submarine, a USS Sulphur Amphibious Assault Ship, and two San Antonio-class dock landing ships in a massive fleet near the Caribbean.
Meanwhile, the US Navy and Air Force continue counter-narcotics operations in the Caribbean. A video released on December 8th shows drug traffickers throwing large packages into the sea from a high-speed vessel, and the US military released the video to counter domestic opinions claiming the vessel carried ordinary fishermen. With the US’s reconnaissance and intelligence capabilities, distinguishing between regular fishermen and drug traffickers is relatively easy.
On December 7th, US forces conducted a maritime operation in the Caribbean, intercepting a small boat and arresting three suspected individuals, discovering multiple packages of drugs onboard.
Facing continuous US pressure, the Venezuelan military released a video indicating preparedness for a long-term war. The video shows over 5,600 soldiers standing in formation, proclaiming themselves as revolutionaries and socialists loyal to Chavezism, ready to turn every inch of land into a battlefield if needed, from cities to mountains to underground tunnels.
In November, US President Trump and Maduro held a meeting. According to Western media reports, during the conversation, Trump issued an ultimatum to Maduro to immediately relinquish power. While Maduro refused to step down immediately, he presented a series of demands, including global immunity from prosecution. Despite agreeing to relinquish political control, he sought to retain command over the armed forces.
By December 9th, according to a report by CNN, the Trump administration is formulating plans to address Maduro’s potential overthrow in Venezuela. These plans involve various actions the US could take, such as negotiating for Maduro’s voluntary resignation or launching military strikes on targets in Venezuela to force his ouster.
A senior US government official told reporters that it is their duty to be prepared with three options A, B, and C, but the actual choice among them rests with the US President.
As per CNN’s report, Trump is not interested in prolonged negotiations with Maduro. An official familiar with Trump stated that the negotiating space given to Maduro is narrower compared to other world leaders, implying the slim chances of Maduro stepping down through negotiations.
US Secretary of State Pompeo told Fox News that Maduro had reached five agreements with different political parties in the past decade, all of which he violated. In the eyes of the US government, Maduro’s past record signifies that the US is unwilling to make any new deals with him due to his consistent violations.
The US has gathered military forces in the Caribbean for five months. The recent deep incursion of F-18 Super Hornets into Venezuelan territory signifies extreme pressure on the Maduro government. As diplomatic negotiations reach a deadlock, it seems inevitable that US military action will occur. However, the US still holds the initiative on when and how to strike, showing no urgency in the decision-making process.
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