In recent hours, Venezuela’s Ministry of People’s Power for Defense reported detecting U.S. Marine Corps F-35B stealth fighters near the country’s coasts. The announcement was made from an air base by Defense Minister Vladimir Padrino López, who described the event as a provocation by the United States.
According to Venezuelan authorities, the activity was detected by the nation’s air defense systems, which identified at least five U.S. F-35 Lightning II jets operating inside the Maiquetía Flight Information Region (FIR). They added that the incursion was corroborated by Colombian airline Avianca, which reported the aircraft flying approximately 75 kilometers (47 miles) off Venezuela’s coast.
The incident comes amid an ongoing U.S. military deployment in the Caribbean, aimed at strengthening its presence against drug trafficking activities in the region. Since mid-September, the U.S. has deployed significant assets under the area of responsibility of U.S. Southern Command (SOUTHCOM), ranging from F-35B fighters to U.S. Navy vessels.
Specifically, the F-35Bs form part of a 10-aircraft deployment from Marine Corps Air Station Yuma, Arizona, arriving in Puerto Rico on September 13. They belong to Marine Fighter Attack Squadron 225 (VMFA-225) and are operating from the former Roosevelt Roads Naval Base, now serving as a key support hub for U.S. operations in the Caribbean.
Observers and flight trackers have already reported these stealth fighters conducting patrols near Venezuelan waters, lending weight to Caracas’ claims. In response, the government of Nicolás Maduro has emphasized that its long-range Russian-made air defense systems — such as the S-300VM and Buk-M2E — are capable of detecting and deterring incursions, even against fifth-generation aircraft like the F-35B.
The U.S. deployment in the Caribbean, however, is not limited to stealth fighters. Official information confirms the presence of logistics units, air defense elements, maritime patrol aircraft, and at least eight U.S. Navy ships. These include destroyers, amphibious assault ships, and specialized support vessels like the MV Ocean Trader, which functions as a floating base for special operations forces. The Amphibious Ready Group (ARG) currently in the region is composed of the USS Iwo Jima, USS San Antonio, and USS Fort Lauderdale, all deployed from Norfolk.
Since the contingent’s arrival in September, U.S. Southern Command has carried out several operations. Three successful interdictions have been reported against vessels engaged in drug trafficking, resulting in seizures of illicit cargo and disruption of transnational criminal networks. Washington signals with this deployment its intent to maintain permanent coverage of key maritime routes in the Caribbean and sustain interdiction operations in regional waters.
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