US Sending Fighter Jets to Puerto Rico in Anti-Drug Operation

The United States has ordered the deployment of ten F-35 fighter jets to Puerto Rico as part of an intensifying campaign against drug cartels in the southern Caribbean. Sources with knowledge of the operation said the planes will arrive by next week and will take part in missions against groups accused of smuggling narcotics into the United States.

This decision comes only days after U.S. forces launched an air strike on a boat that authorities claimed was carrying large amounts of drugs from Venezuela. The attack killed eleven people and, according to President Donald Trump, targeted members of the Venezuelan gang known as Tren de Aragua. Washington had earlier designated the group a terrorist organization.

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The U.S. military has been building up its presence in the region, with thousands of Marines and sailors already stationed nearby. Warships have been deployed, and amphibious training exercises are underway in southern Puerto Rico. Officials present the campaign as part of Trump’s pledge to take a tougher stance on narcotics networks threatening the United States. The deployment of fighter jets signals that Washington intends to sustain a long-term military effort in Latin America’s southern waters.

The expansion of U.S. forces in the Caribbean is increasing political tensions with Venezuela. In recent weeks, seven U.S. warships and a nuclear-powered submarine have either arrived or are expected to join the mission. Together they carry more than 4,500 Marines and sailors. The 22nd Marine Expeditionary Unit has been conducting flight operations and amphibious drills in Puerto Rico, preparing for possible extended missions.

U.S. Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth has labeled Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro the head of a drug-based criminal state, accusing him of directing narcotics operations. At a press conference in Caracas, Maduro denied the allegations and warned that Washington was attempting to use military threats as a tool for regime change. He described the U.S. actions as a violation of Venezuelan sovereignty and a dangerous escalation.

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Despite the claims from Washington, U.S. officials have not explained the legal justification for the strike on the Venezuelan-linked vessel. They also have not confirmed whether any drugs were found on board. Analysts see the deployment of fighter jets and warships as the start of a broader campaign in Latin America. The situation highlights both security concerns and political conflict over U.S. involvement in the region.