U.S. Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth and Air Force General Dan Caine, chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, arrived in Puerto Rico on Monday as Washington intensifies military operations targeting drug cartels in the Caribbean. Their visit follows the recent arrival of ships carrying hundreds of U.S. Marines for large-scale training exercises on the island.
Puerto Rico Governor Jenniffer González welcomed the visit, praising the Trump administration for what she described as recognition of the island’s “strategic importance” to U.S. national security. She specifically thanked President Trump for “his fight against drug cartels and the narco-dictator Nicolás Maduro.”
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Hegseth and Caine met officials at the 156th Wing Muñiz Air National Guard Base in Carolina, near San Juan, and addressed nearly 300 soldiers, calling them “American warriors.” According to a defense official speaking on condition of anonymity, preparations are underway for the deployment of 10 F-35 fighter jets to Puerto Rico as part of forthcoming counter-narcotics operations.
The buildup comes just days after President Trump confirmed a strike in the southern Caribbean that targeted a Venezuelan vessel allegedly operated by the Tren de Aragua gang. Eleven people were killed in the rare U.S. operation, sparking mixed reactions across the region. While Trinidad and Tobago’s prime minister applauded the strike and urged a hardline approach, other Caribbean leaders expressed unease. Barbados Foreign Minister Kerrie Symmonds revealed that CARICOM members had formally requested direct communication with Washington to avoid being blindsided by further actions against Venezuela.
For his part, Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro condemned U.S. military activity, vowing to defend his country’s sovereignty while urging Trump to pursue dialogue to avoid broader conflict.
The growing U.S. presence in Puerto Rico has also rekindled local opposition. Protesters gathered outside the National Guard base in Carolina over the weekend, chanting “No to war” and warning against the use of the island as a staging ground. Activist Sonia Santiago Hernández of Mothers Against War said: “We denounce the existence of military bases in Puerto Rico. Our island must not be used for conflict.”
Memories of past controversies linger. Puerto Rico still carries the scars of decades-long U.S. naval training in Vieques, where the 1999 death of civilian guard David Sanes Rodríguez during a bombing exercise triggered massive protests that ultimately forced the Navy to withdraw. Cleanup of the site continues more than 20 years later.
Officials, however, insist current activities are routine. Siul López, spokesman for Puerto Rico’s National Guard, stressed that the Marines training on the island are not directly linked to the new maritime deployments. He noted that such amphibious drills are typically scheduled a year in advance and that the exercises, which began on August 31, involve amphibious maneuvers and survival training in Puerto Rico’s challenging terrain and climate.
Governor González countered critics, saying Puerto Rico plays an indispensable role as part of America’s “Caribbean border.” She estimated more than 1,000 Marines are currently on the island as part of the ongoing exercises.
It remains unclear how long Hegseth and Caine will remain in Puerto Rico or whether they plan to visit additional sites during their trip.
