Two Venezuelan F-16 fighter aircraft were observed flying near a U.S. navy destroyer in the Caribbean, as reported by a U.S. official to Reuters on Thursday. This incident prompted a strong warning from the U.S. to Venezuela against meddling in the escalating U.S. military actions in the region. The Pentagon confirmed that the event took place in international waters, heightening tensions just after a recent U.S. strike that resulted in the deaths of 11 individuals on a Venezuelan vessel suspected of carrying illegal drugs.
Despite the Trump administration’s justification for the attack, legal experts have raised concerns about the legitimacy of targeting alleged members of the Tren de Aragua criminal group, which was designated a terrorist organization by the U.S. earlier this year. The Pentagon, in a brief statement, likened Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro’s government to a drug cartel, a claim vehemently denied by Caracas. President Trump has accused Maduro of being involved with Tren de Aragua.
In response to the incident, the Pentagon issued a statement cautioning the Venezuelan regime against obstructing or interfering with U.S. military operations related to counter-narcotics and counter-terrorism. The U.S. navy destroyer involved was the USS Jason Dunham, and it was reported that the fighter jets made a pass over the vessel but did not engage in any confrontation.
The deployment of at least seven U.S. warships in the Caribbean, with over 4,500 sailors and marines on board, has raised concerns in Caracas. Additionally, U.S. marines and sailors have been conducting training exercises in southern Puerto Rico as part of the military buildup in the region.
Critics, including Rep. Ilhan Omar, have condemned Trump’s actions in the Caribbean, emphasizing that Congress has not declared war on Venezuela or Tren de Aragua. The decision to destroy the suspected drug vessel rather than seize it has sparked controversy, with legal experts pointing out that it could be viewed as an extrajudicial killing.
The Trump administration has not provided concrete evidence of an imminent threat or the presence of armed individuals on the vessel to justify the military strike. The lack of transparency in the decision-making process has drawn attention to the unconventional nature of the operation and its potential implications on international perceptions of the incident.
