By Puerto Rico

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ReutersUS Navy Landing Craft Air Cushion maneuvering during training in Arroyo, Puerto Rico,

Over recent weeks in September 2025, the United States has significantly increased its military presence in the Caribbean, particularly in Puerto Rico and waters near Venezuela. This build-up includes the deployment of advanced combat jets, naval vessels, and personnel, alongside the commencement of large-scale military exercises. The escalating tensions between the US and Venezuela, both accusing each other of provocative actions, have set the stage for a highly charged geopolitical standoff with implications of potential armed conflict.On September 14, 2025, five U.S. F-35 stealth fighter jets were seen landing at the former Roosevelt Roads Naval Station in Ceiba, Puerto Rico (now José Aponte de la Torre Airport). The 22nd Marine Expeditionary Unit (MEU) is reported to be carrying out amphibious training operations in southern Puerto Rico, including landing drills and flight operations with MV-22 Osprey tilt-rotor aircraft. There are also reports of MQ-9 Reaper drones present, some imagery showing sensor pods and possibly Hellfire racks, though public sources do not fully confirm their active use in all phases of the training. Multiple U.S. naval warships are in the broader deployment: destroyers such as USS Jason Dunham and USS Sampson, the guided-missile cruiser USS Lake Erie, amphibious assault ships including USS Iwo Jima, alongside amphibious transport docks USS San Antonio and USS Fort Lauderdale, the littoral combat ship USS Minneapolis-Saint Paul, and the fast-attack submarine USS Newport News. Live EventsThe force, including over 4,500 Marines and sailors, is conducting amphibious training exercises in Puerto Rico. The activities are linked in official and media reports to improving readiness and to counter-narcotics operations. to enhance amphibious assault readiness, maritime interdiction, and rapid deployment capabilities.The US has also conducted strikes on suspected drug-carrying vessels associated with the Venezuelan Tren de Aragua gang, including a deadly strike that killed 11 people on September 2 and a second strike on September 15. President Donald Trump has framed these actions as part of a wider war against narcotics endangering the US population, emphasizing the loss of American lives due to drugs as comparable to battlefield casualties.Venezuelan military responseIn reaction to the US military presence and actions, Venezuela initiated a three-day Caribbean military exercise called “Sovereign Caribbean” on September 17, 2025, on the island of La Orchila, close to maritime zones involved in US-Venezuela confrontations. This exercise involves 12 ships, 22 aircraft including armed and surveillance drones, 20 small boats from the Special Naval Militia, and electronic warfare operations. Venezuelan Defense Minister Vladimir Padrino Lopez denounced US actions as threats to the nation’s sovereignty, accusing Washington of a “threatening and vulgar” rhetoric and acts perceived as extrajudicial killings by UN experts regarding the strikes on drug vessels. Publicly broadcast images have shown amphibious vessels and warships maneuvering near Venezuela’s military base on La Orchila.Risks of escalationThe military deployments in Puerto Rico and Venezuelan defensive exercises highlight a region fraught with the potential for miscalculation or direct conflict. US officials underscore the mission as anti-drug trafficking focused, but Caracas portrays it as aggressive interference aimed at regime change. Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro has vowed to defend national sovereignty and significantly ramp up military readiness, calling up thousands of troops and militia members under “Plan Independencia 200.” The US-Venezuela confrontations have included incidents such as US Navy personnel detaining and boarding a Venezuelan fishing vessel for hours, drawing official protests from Caracas.The regional tensions are compounded by accusations and counter-accusations, with the US government labeling Maduro as a cartel leader and terrorist supporter while Venezuela condemns US violent strikes and presence in their waters. UN experts have criticized the strikes as alleged extrajudicial executions, further complicating international perspectives on the legality and morality of these military operations.Add as a Reliable and Trusted News Source Add Now!
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