Washington deploys 10 F-35 jets to Caribbean in war against drug cartels; Maduro fears US-backed regime change

The United States has ordered the deployment of ten F-35 fighter jets to Puerto Rico to bolster its campaign against drug cartels in the Caribbean, AFP reported, citing sources on Friday, September 5. The aircraft will reinforce US warships already stationed in the southern Caribbean, as President Donald Trump intensifies pressure on Venezuelan leader Nicolás Maduro, whom Washington accuses of heading a drug trafficking network.

According to Reuters, the ten jets are being sent to the southern Caribbean to conduct operations against designated narco-terrorist organizations. They are expected to arrive late next week.



The US Department of Defense, which Trump intends to rebrand as the "Department of War," stated on X that two "Maduro regime" aircraft flew near a US vessel on Thursday. It was followed by US forces blowing up an alleged drug boat in the Caribbean, which killed 11 people, which Trump claimed belonged to the Tren de Aragua, a Venezuelan criminal organization linked to Maduro.

Current military buildup in the Caribbean

As per Sky News, in recent weeks the US has deployed seven warships and one nuclear-powered fast attack submarine carrying more than 4,500 sailors and Marines in the southern Caribbean. US Marines and sailors from the 22nd Marine Expeditionary Unit have been conducting amphibious training and flight exercises in southern Puerto Rico.

For context, Venezuela also has 15 F-16 fighter jets purchased from the United States in the 1980s, as well as a number of Russian fighters and helicopters.

US-Venezuela relations

The US sees Maduro's last election in 2024 as illegitimate. During a visit to Ecuador on Thursday, US Secretary of State Marco Rubio said, as quoted by Sky News. "He is a fugitive of US justice." He added, "He's not the legitimate leader of Venezuela. We never recognised him. He is an indicted fugitive causing trouble in the region."

However, at a rare news conference in Caracas this week, Maduro accused the US of threatening regime change through military force, as per the outlet. US officials have not stated what legal justification was used for Tuesday's air strike on the boat or what drugs were found on board.