US Flexes Military Muscles at Venezuela

By Amira El-Fekki‎

Middle East News Reporter

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U.S. military aircraft are operating near Venezuelan airspace, according to tracking data shared by open-source intelligence analysts online, as President Donald Trump is ramping up pressure on President Nicolás Maduro.

The fighter jets are operating from the USS Gerald R. Ford aircraft carrier, performing training exercises to test Venezuela's air defense capabilities, The War Zone cited a U.S. official as saying.

"The U.S. is engaged in a counter-drug cartel operation to advance President Trump’s pledge to secure our border, combat narco-terrorists, and stop the flow of deadly drugs into our country," Tommy Pigott, deputy spokesperson of the U.S. State Department previously told Newsweek. "Maduro is not the legitimate leader of Venezuela; he’s a fugitive of American justice who undermines regional security and poisons Americans," he added.

Why It Matters

U.S. military forces are increasing deployment to the Caribbean in support of U.S. Southern Command operations and the president’s stated priorities to disrupt illicit drug trafficking. Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth announced Operation Southern Spear expanding its anti-drug campaign last week, nearly two months after the U.S. began carrying out strikes on alleged smuggling boats in the region. However, the moves are largely seen as directly targeting Maduro's regime.

What To Know

The aircraft flying near Venezuelan airspace included F/A-18 Super Hornets, an RC-135 Rivet Joint and B‑52 bombers. Maduro publicly called for peace amid intensified U.S. military buildup.

In a recent interview with One America Network (OAN), Hegseth insisted Maduro is "not a legitimately elected leader," accusing him of lying to the previous U.S. administration about leaving office, participating in drug trafficking, and being indicted. he added that Trump is "not messing around" and "nothing is off the table."

At least 80 people have been killed in U.S. strikes on 20 alleged drug boats in the southern Caribbean and eastern Pacific since early September, including Venezuelan nationals.

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What People Are Saying

The War Zone quoted a U.S. official saying Thursday: "They are normal operational training flights from the aircraft carrier USS Ford and platforms performing training exercises. They are also testing Venezuelan sensors and responses, and it is part of the pressure campaign to show U.S. capabilities in the Caribbean."

Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth told One America Network in an interview Thursday: "We know exactly who we are targeting, why we are targeting them, what they are carrying. The United States can track and hunt cells and narco-terrorists better than any country in the world."

Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro told CNN on November 13: "No more forever wars. No more unjust wars. No more Libya. No more Afghanistan."

What Happens Next

The U.S official designation of the Venezuela-based Cartel de los Soles as a Foreign Terrorist Organization will take effect on November 24. The U.S. says the cartel is headed by Maduro, raising the prospect of possible U.S. strikes on Venezuela.

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