Tensions Escalate as Venezuelan Fighter Jets Buzz US Navy Ship in Caribbean;

Tensions between the United States and Venezuela have flared once again after two Venezuelan military aircraft flew dangerously close to a US Navy warship operating in international waters, prompting a sharp warning from the Pentagon. The incident occurred earlier this week in the southern Caribbean Sea, where two Venezuelan F-16 fighter jets reportedly flew over the guided-missile destroyer USS Jason Dunham. While the US ship did not respond with force, the Department of Defense condemned the maneuver as “highly provocative” and accused the Venezuelan government of attempting to disrupt US-led counter-narcotics operations in the region. In a strongly worded statement posted on social media, the Pentagon warned the Maduro government to refrain from further “interference” in its missions. “The cartel running Venezuela is strongly advised not to pursue any further effort to obstruct, deter, or interfere with counter-narcotics and counter-terror operations carried out by the US military,” the statement said. The flyover comes amid heightened military activity in the Caribbean and growing hostility between Washington and Caracas. The Trump administration has long accused President Nicolás Maduro and his inner circle of facilitating and profiting from drug trafficking, although critics say these claims have yet to be substantiated with concrete evidence. In August, the US doubled its reward for information leading to Maduro’s arrest — raising it to $50 million — over allegations of his involvement in a transnational cocaine trafficking network. Around the same time, the US Navy deployed several vessels and even a nuclear-powered submarine to the Caribbean as part of a broader operation targeting drug cartels operating in the region. President Maduro has repeatedly condemned the US naval presence, accusing Washington of preparing for military intervention under the guise of counter-narcotics missions. “They are seeking regime change through military threat,” Maduro said in a recent televised speech. “If attacked, we will declare a republic in arms.” In response to the rising threat, Venezuela this week activated its National Militia — a civilian reserve force that Maduro says now spans the entire country. State media celebrated the move as a demonstration of national unity and resistance. However, the situation took a darker turn on Tuesday, when US forces reportedly destroyed a speedboat in the Caribbean suspected of being involved in drug trafficking. According to President Trump, the boat was linked to a criminal organization backed by Maduro. The airstrike killed 11 people. Venezuela has accused the US of carrying out an extrajudicial execution, arguing that the victims were killed without due process or confirmation that they posed any imminent threat. Legal experts have echoed those concerns, warning that the attack may have violated international law, especially if the individuals on board were unarmed civilians. As both nations harden their positions, the risk of further confrontation continues to grow, raising fears of a deeper conflict in an already volatile region.

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