The United States has ordered the deployment of 10 F-35 stealth fighter jets to the Puerto Rico Air Force Base to carry out military missions against drug smuggling groups, strengthening the Trump administration’s anti-drug operations in the Caribbean region. This move is part of President Trump’s commitment to combatting transnational drug crimes. He has accused multiple Latin American gangs of importing drugs into the United States, posing a danger to society. Sources revealed that the F-35 jets will target “designated drug terrorist organizations” in southern Caribbean and are expected to arrive in the area by the weekend.
The deployment of F-35s comes at a time of escalating tensions between the United States and Venezuela. The US military recently carried out an airstrike on a drug trafficking vessel allegedly from Venezuela, resulting in 11 deaths as the vessel was sunk. Trump stated that the crew were members of the Venezuelan gang “Tren de Aragua,” controlled directly by Venezuelan President Maduro, who had been designated as a terrorist group by the US in February.
Additionally, the Pentagon has accused two Venezuelan F-16 fighter jets of flying over the USS Jason Dunham, a US warship, on Thursday, calling it a “highly provocative” act. The F-35, as an advanced stealth fighter jet in the US military, holds a significant advantage in operations against the Venezuelan Air Force.
Currently, the US military has deployed at least 7 warships and a nuclear submarine in the Caribbean, totaling over 4,500 personnel, with the 22nd Marine Expeditionary Unit conducting amphibious and flight training in southern Puerto Rico.
Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth stated on Thursday that Maduro is “essentially the head of a drug regime,” emphasizing the legitimacy of the US military airstrikes and their commitment to continue operations until the activities harming the American people come to an end.
The Venezuelan government has denied the accusations and has yet to respond to the incidents of fighter jets flying over US warships and the deployment of the F-35s.