Venezuela’s government recently stated it had tracked multiple U.S. fighter jets operating close to its coastline, escalating tensions with Washington following a major American military build-up in the Caribbean.
Defense Minister Vladimir Padrino, in a televised address, claimed the nation’s air defenses and radar at its main airport detected “more than five combat aircraft” approaching Venezuelan airspace. He described the activity as both a “provocation” and a “threat to national security.”
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The report comes weeks after U.S. President Donald Trump ordered the largest military deployment to the region in more than three decades. The move included 10 F-35 stealth fighters sent to Puerto Rico, eight warships, and a nuclear-powered submarine. Washington has said the buildup is aimed at disrupting narcotics trafficking routes to the United States.
Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro, however, has framed the U.S. presence as part of a covert campaign to force regime change. His defense minister echoed the warning, suggesting the latest flybys fit a pattern of intimidation.
Meanwhile, U.S. forces have intensified operations at sea, destroying at least three boats alleged to be linked to traffickers in recent weeks, actions that resulted in 14 reported deaths.
The incident underscores the increasingly volatile standoff between Caracas and Washington, with military posturing now adding to the long-running political and economic tensions that define their relationship.
