As the days pass and new developments continue to emerge regarding Venezuela, U.S. military activity in the Caribbean remains steady. Leaving behind the surgical joint Operation Absolute Resolve and the return of F-22 fighters to the United States, the White House is maintaining its military presence on the island of Puerto Rico, sending a signal of proximity to Caracas while internal political issues are being resolved. From the island, Zona Militar continues reporting from what is a strategic enclave for the North American country in the Caribbean.
For several months now, the U.S. Armed Forces have been present in Puerto Rico, from where they have deployed a broad array of air, naval, logistical platforms and infrastructure. From the aircraft carrier USS Gerald R. Ford to F-35 and F-22 fighters, transport aircraft, and helicopters, all were initially assigned to what the United States defined as counter-narcotics missions. Bombings of boats accused of drug trafficking, along with naval patrols and flights near Venezuela, were just some of the demonstrations of force that later found their most visible expression on January 3 with the capture of Nicolás Maduro.
However, the role that the island of Puerto Rico is currently playing within the regional context cannot be overlooked, as it has become key for the United States to project and support its military capabilities. As previously mentioned, U.S. Armed Forces are deployed in several areas of the island, but José Aponte de la Torre Airport has emerged as one of the central nodes of the operational scheme, gaining notoriety in specialized circles due to the wide variety of assets stationed there.
Among the platforms observed were fifth-generation F-35 Lightning II fighter-bombers from both the Air National Guard and the U.S. Marine Corps; AV-8B Harrier II+ aircraft belonging to the Marines; EA-18G Growler electronic warfare aircraft from the U.S. Navy; CSAR/SAR HH-60W Jolly Green II helicopters from the 33rd Rescue Squadron; as well as AH-1Z Viper attack helicopters and UH-1Y Venom utility helicopters.
Building on this, during our second day of coverage it was possible to confirm that the activity of military assets and units in Puerto Rico remains sustained, reinforcing the island’s role as an operational support hub within the regional framework and as the closest U.S. forward position in the Caribbean, in a context still shaped by the evolving situation in Venezuela.
The continued presence of these assets, even after the conclusion of Operation Absolute Resolve, suggests that Washington seeks to preserve a flexible operational capability in the region. Beyond specific operations, the deployment should also be understood as part of a sustained logic of prolonged presence, aimed at ensuring control of air and maritime space, but also serving as a function of strategic signaling toward extra-regional actors.
*Translated by Constanza Matteo
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