The United States has significantly increased its military presence in the Caribbean, deploying advanced F-35B fighter jets, helicopters, V-22 Osprey aircraft, and thousands of troops to the former Roosevelt Roads Naval Air Station in Puerto Rico, now known as the José Aponte de la Torre Airport. This move, which also includes destroyers, amphibious ships, and a nuclear submarine in the region, is officially billed as a counter-narcotics operation, but is also aimed at increasing pressure on the Nicolás Maduro regime in Venezuela. The Pentagon has mobilized more than 4,500 personnel for this operation, the largest in the Caribbean since the 1980s.
In response to US actions, Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro mobilized over four million members of the Bolivarian National Militia to defend the country's territorial integrity, sovereignty, and peace, calling on them to be "armed and ready" to defend the entire national territory. Tensions escalated after two Venezuelan warplanes flew close to a US Navy ship in international waters, further escalating the regional situation.
This escalation is part of a broader operation launched in late August 2025, ostensibly to combat drug trafficking. However, experts speculate that the true purpose of the operation may be to put pressure on the regime of Nicolás Maduro, whom the US accuses of drug trafficking ties and is offering a reward of up to $50 million for his arrest. Venezuela, for its part, accuses the United States of waging an "undeclared war" in the Caribbean and calls for a UN investigation into US actions, which they believe threaten stability in the region. Venezuelan authorities believe the United States is targeting civilians and suspects without due process, raising questions about the legality of these actions, as drug trafficking is not punishable by death under US law.
In response to the US actions, Venezuela launched large-scale military exercises on the island of La Horquilla in the Caribbean, highlighting the delicate balance between law enforcement operations and geopolitical tensions in the region. The international community is closely monitoring developments, aware that any misstep could trigger a new crisis in the hemisphere.