The United States has directed the deployment of ten F-35 fighter jets to Puerto Rico to strengthen its campaign against drug cartels in the Caribbean, AFP reported, citing sources on Friday, September 5. The jets will reinforce US warships already deployed in the southern Caribbean, as President Donald Trump increases pressure on Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro, whom Washington accuses of operating a drug trafficking network.

Reuters reports that the ten aircraft are being sent to the southern Caribbean to conduct operations against targeted narco-terrorist groups. They are expected to arrive late next week.

The US Department of Defence, which Trump plans to rename the "Department of War," stated on X that two "Maduro regime" planes flew near a US ship on Thursday. This was followed by US troops sinking a reported drug boat in the Caribbean, killing 11 individuals, which Trump said belonged to the Tren de Aragua, a Venezuelan criminal group aligned with Maduro.

Sky News reports that in recent weeks, the United States has sent seven warships and a nuclear-powered fast attack submarine carrying more than 4,500 sailors and Marines to the southern Caribbean. US Marines and sailors from the 22nd Marine Expeditionary Unit have been conducting amphibious training and flight exercises in southern Puerto Rico.

For context, Venezuela also has 15 F-16 fighter jets purchased from the United States in the 1980s, as well as several Russian fighters and helicopters.

The United States considers Maduro's last election in 2024 to be illegitimate. During a visit to Ecuador on Thursday, US Secretary of State Marco Rubio said, as quoted by Sky News, "He is a fugitive of US justice." He added, "He's not the legitimate leader of Venezuela. We never recognised him. He is an indicted fugitive causing trouble in the region."

However, at an extraordinary news conference in Caracas this week, Maduro accused the United States of threatening regime change through military force, according to the outlet. US officials have not stated what legal justification was used for Tuesday's air strike on the boat or what drugs were found on board.