Tensions between the United States and Venezuela escalated this Friday after the announcement of the deployment of ten F-35 fighter jets to an air base in Puerto Rico.
The move, confirmed by sources in Washington, was presented as a direct response to the overflight of two Venezuelan aircraft over airspace near U.S. operations in the southern Caribbean.
The Department of Defense (renamed this week by President Donald Trump as the Department of War) called the Venezuelan maneuver an “unnecessary provocation” and assured that it will not allow actions that put its personnel deployed in the region at risk.
"These types of moves are irresponsible and do not contribute to regional stability," a spokesperson said.
According to the sources, who spoke on condition of anonymity, the ten modern warplanes will be sent to carry out operations against criminal organizations in the Caribbean designated by Washington as narcoterrorists. According to the sources, the planes are expected to arrive at the end of next week.
The decision is part of the anti-drug offensive that President Donald Trump promised to strengthen in Latin America and that has already resulted in a significant deployment of military resources. In addition to the F-35s, Washington maintains seven warships and a nuclear attack submarine in the region, with more than 6,500 Navy and Marine Corps personnel.
This comes three days after U.S. forces attacked a vessel that President Trump said was carrying “massive quantities of drugs” from Venezuela. The attack, which killed 11 people, has been interpreted as the start of a sustained military campaign in Latin America against drug cartels.
The deployment of the F-35s, however, does not fit into this strategy, as they are combat aircraft used more for war scenarios.
The F-35 Lightning II, in particular, is a fifth-generation aircraft considered one of the most advanced in the world. Its stealth technology makes it difficult to detect by enemy radars, giving it a key advantage in deterrence and attack operations.
Capable of reaching supersonic speeds and equipped with state-of-the-art sensors, the F-35 can perform multiple roles: from precision strikes and electronic warfare, to intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance missions.
Its data fusion system allows the pilot to have a complete view of the battlefield and coordinate operations with other air and naval units.
With this addition, the United States seeks to strengthen its response capacity in the Caribbean amid growing friction with the regime of Nicolás Maduro, which accuses Washington of using the anti-drug war as a pretext for regime change through military pressure. EL TIEMPO Correspondent
Washington
