Two Venezuelan warplanes allegedly made a perilously close fly-by of a United States Navy warship in the Caribbean, earning Washington the call “highly provocative” as tensions between the two countries boil over.
Pentagon Issues Stern Warning
The Pentagon affirmed two Venezuelan military planes flew close to the guided-missile destroyer USS Jason Dunham as it was conducting international waters operations on Thursday. US defense officials described the flyby as intended to intimidate or interfere with counter-narcotics operations underway.
In a stinging rebuke, the Defense Department blamed Venezuela’s government for trying to hinder the fight against drug cartels and terrorism. “The cartel controlling Venezuela is strongly warned against further attempts to interfere,” the Pentagon warned in an X post.
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Caracas Mobilises Militia Amid US Pressure
Venezuelan official media did not mention the incident, but reported instead on President Nicolás Maduro’s declaration of deploying the nation’s National Militia nationwide. Maduro, who has long suspected Washington of conspiring against him to bring about regime change, announced that for the first time ever, militia units would be deployed in all communities across the nation.
The action follows Washington doubling the bounty to $50 million for intel that leads to Maduro’s arrest on suspected drug trafficking connections. The US has constantly accused Venezuela’s president of working with cartels, although it has not produced evidence. In retaliation, Maduro threatened to mobilize the nation against what he terms an “imminent US military threat.”
Controversial US Strike Sparks Outrage
The flyover came after another hotbed in the region: a recent US attack on a suspected narco-trafficking speedboat that killed 11 individuals. President Donald Trump asserted the boat belonged to a Maduro-linked cartel, but Caracas accused Washington of engaging in extrajudicial murders.
Legal experts also questioned, pointing out the US provided no evidence that the victims represented an imminent danger or were even armed. Critics maintain the strike can be perceived internationally as an illegal attack on civilians.
While US vessels and even a nuclear submarine are still deployed off the coast of Venezuela, the newest close call highlights the delicate equilibrium in the Caribbean. Each government seems reluctant to give in, leaving the region tense with concerns over more escalation.
