By Michelle Ndaga
President Donald Trump has warned that Venezuelan fighter jets could be targeted and destroyed if they pose a threat to U.S. naval forces operating in the Caribbean.
His remarks follow a tense incident earlier this week in which two Venezuelan F-16s flew dangerously close to the USS Jason Dunham, a U.S. Navy destroyer carrying out counter-narcotics patrols in international waters. Pentagon officials described the flyover as “highly provocative” and a risk to regional security.
The U.S. has recently boosted its military presence in the Caribbean, deploying ten F-35 stealth fighter jets to Puerto Rico and reinforcing its naval fleet.
The move comes alongside Washington’s intensified campaign against drug cartels, some of which are accused of operating with ties to Venezuelan networks.
Tensions have further escalated after a U.S. strike destroyed a vessel allegedly linked to Venezuela’s Tren de Aragua gang, killing 11 suspected traffickers. Analysts say the latest warning signals Washington’s willingness to escalate militarily if its forces are endangered.
Trump reiterated that while the U.S. does not seek confrontation, its ships and personnel will be protected “at all costs.”
Source: The Washington Post, Reuters, The Guardian
