U.S. Defence Secretary Pete Hegseth and Joint Chiefs of Staff Chairman Dan Caine made a surprise visit to Puerto Rico on Monday, marking the first trip by senior Pentagon officials since Washington increased its military presence in the Caribbean, heightening tensions with Venezuela.
The officials were greeted by Puerto Rico governor Jenniffer Gonzalez, who shared photographs of the meeting on social media platform X.
President Donald Trump has ordered the Department of Defence to be renamed the Department of War, pending congressional approval, a move that would also change Hegseth’s title to “Secretary of War.”
The Pentagon released a video showing Hegseth arriving on the USS Iwo Jima, anchored off Puerto Rico’s coast.
Gonzalez praised the visit, saying it recognises Puerto Rico’s strategic importance for U.S. national security and the fight against drug cartels allegedly supported by Venezuelan president Nicolas Maduro.
The Trump administration has deployed 10 F-35 fighter jets to a Puerto Rico airfield to conduct operations targeting drug trafficking. The deployment adds to an already significant U.S. military presence in the southern Caribbean.
Last week, a U.S. military strike in the Caribbean killed 11 people and sank a Venezuelan boat, which Trump claimed was carrying illegal narcotics. Congressional members have demanded clarification on the legal basis for the strike, questioning how the administration identified the targets and their cargo.
Venezuelan officials criticised U.S. actions. Vice president Delcy Rodriguez questioned the existence of drug cartels in the country, pointing to data showing Venezuela does not produce cocaine and that most trafficking occurs via Pacific routes.
The United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime reports that 74% of cocaine exported from South America is trafficked across the Pacific, highlighting the regional scale of narcotics routes.
Hegseth and Caine visited Puerto Rico while U.S. marines and sailors from the 22nd Marine Expeditionary Unit conduct amphibious training and flight operations in the southern part of the island, underlining the growing U.S. military focus in the Caribbean.
U.S. President Donald Trump said there was an "all-day negotiation" on Tuesday with Iran, characterising the talks positively while also threatening t...
Iran says it is holding “positive” talks with Oman on reopening the Strait of Hormuz to shipping traffic, while an official source familiar with t...
Top Arab and Muslim foreign ministers agreed at a meeting in Amman on Wednesday to establish a mechanism to document alleged Israeli violations in Jer...
Start your day informed with AnewZ Morning Brief. Here are the top news stories for the 5th of August, covering the latest developments.
U.S. President Donald Trump said there was an "all-day negotiation" on Tuesday with Iran, characterising the talks positively while also threatening to hit Iran "really hard" if a deal was not reached.
Tehran had made plans to strike sites in Ukraine after Kyiv attacked an Iranian cargo ship in the Caspian Sea, a senior Iranian military adviser has said. Iran refrained from taking action after Kyiv said the strike was a mistake, Mohsen Rezaei told the state IRIB TV channel.
Start your day informed with AnewZ Morning Brief. Here are the top news stories for the 4th of August, covering the latest developments.
U.S. data analytics firm Palantir Technologies has reported a 93 per cent year-on-year jump in second-quarter revenue, even as the company faces continued criticism over its work with Israel's military and allegations linking its technology to the war in Gaza.a.
Türkiye's ruling alliance has submitted draft legislation to parliament aimed at advancing the peace process with the Kurdistan Workers' Party (PKK). The proposed law includes legal protections for many former militants and suspended prison sentences for some convicted members.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy has dismissed the country's ambassadors to Tajikistan, Kyrgyzstan and several other countries. The removals came after a speech on Monday in which he said embassies would be judged on their effectiveness in securing weapons for Ukraine.
Kyrgyzstan and Uzbekistan have begun implementing a landmark 2022 border agreement, launching a land exchange to complete the demarcation of their shared frontier and pave the way for new infrastructure projects.
A new Ebola treatment centre is due to open this week in Bunia, eastern Democratic Republic of Congo, as authorities battle the country's largest and fastest-spreading Ebola outbreak on record. Officials hope the new facility will ease pressure on an overstretched healthcare system.
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has said Israeli forces will not withdraw from their current positions in Gaza until Hamas is fully disarmed, casting further doubt on a U.S.-backed proposal aimed at ending the war.
You can download the AnewZ application from Play Store and the App Store.
What is your opinion on this topic?
Leave the first comment