Venezuelan Jets Buzz US Navy Ship Again, Trump Threatens Shoot-Down

President Donald Trump warned Friday that Venezuelan military aircraft flying near US naval vessels in international waters “will be shot down” if they endanger American forces, after two F-16 fighter jets conducted a close-range overflight of the USS Jason Dunham off South America-the second such incident in 48 hours.

In the latest demonstration of rising tensions between Washington and Caracas, Pentagon officials called the manoeuvre “highly provocative,” prompting U.S. plans to deploy F-35 stealth fighters to Puerto Rico to bolster counter-narcotics operations.

Nut Graf

The repeated Venezuelan overflights underscore a growing military standoff fueled by Washington’s expanded anti-drug campaign in the Caribbean and President Nicolás Maduro’s defiant posture. With both nations trading warnings, the risk of a miscalculation at sea has surged, making diplomatic de-escalation ever more urgent.

Second Fly-By Sparks New Warning

  • On Thursday night, two Venezuelan F-16s flew within weapons-range of the Aegis destroyer USS Jason Dunham in international waters, U.S. officials confirmed, marking the second incident since Tuesday.
  • The Pentagon described the action as intended “to interfere with our counter-narco-terror operations,” and cautioned Caracas against further provocations.

US Bolsters Caribbean Posture

  • In response to Thursday’s overflight, the Pentagon announced the deployment of ten Marine Corps F-35B jets to Roosevelt Roads Air Station, Puerto Rico, to support US counternarcotics missions.
  • Secretary of War Pete Hegseth affirmed that U.S. forces will take “necessary measures” to protect the naval flotilla, which includes at least seven warships in the southern Caribbean.

Trump’s Escalating Rhetoric

President Trump told reporters, “If they put us in a dangerous position, they’ll be shot down,” signaling a willingness to use lethal force against Venezuelan aircraft approaching U.S. vessels. He insisted the aim is strictly counter-drug operations, not regime change in Caracas.

Maduro Calls for Dialogue

Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro condemned the U.S. threats and urged renewed dialogue, asserting that “none of our differences can justify a military conflict” and demanding mutual respect in communications.

Regional Implications

The confrontations follow a U.S. strike on a speedboat linked to the Tren de Aragua criminal network, which Trump labeled a terrorist group. Caracas denies such criminal collusion at the highest levels and views the U.S. naval buildup as an infringement on regional sovereignty.

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