Five U.S. F-35 fighter jets landed in Puerto Rico following President Trump's order to bolster Caribbean military presence amid rising tensions with Venezuela.
Five U.S. Air Force F-35 stealth fighters touched down at the former Roosevelt Roads base in Ceiba, Puerto Rico, on Saturday, according to Reuters photographer Ricky Arduengo. Their arrival follows a recent directive by President Donald Trump to deploy 10 F-35s to the Caribbean, part of a broader effort to target drug cartels operating in the region.
The deployment comes against the backdrop of intensifying tensions with Venezuela. Earlier this week, U.S. Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth and the country’s top general made an unannounced visit to Puerto Rico. Military activity at the base has reportedly increased, with sightings of helicopters, Osprey aircraft, and transport planes.
While the Pentagon has not officially confirmed any changes to force posture, sources told Reuters that the F-35s are intended for counter-narcotics operations. This follows last week’s U.S. strike on a Venezuelan vessel, which Washington claimed was carrying illegal drugs. The operation killed 11 people, though Caracas disputes the U.S. version, insisting the victims were not traffickers.
On Friday, a new flashpoint emerged when Venezuela accused the U.S. Navy of illegally boarding a Venezuelan tuna fishing boat in its Special Economic Zone. Venezuelan officials said the ship, manned by nine fishermen, posed no threat and called the U.S. action hostile and illegal. U.S. officials have not commented on the allegation.
The F-35 deployment adds a potent new dimension to U.S. presence in the region. The jets, considered among the most advanced combat aircraft in the world, could easily outmatch Venezuela’s ageing air force, which includes F-16 fighters.
President Trump has denied that the U.S. seeks regime change in Venezuela, but the latest military movements suggest a firm posture as Washington ramps up pressure on the Maduro government.
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The resolution, sponsored by African countries and led by Togo, passed by 164 votes to one, with six abstentions. The United States was the only country to vote against it.
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