US Sends F-35 Jets to Puerto Rico in Crackdown on Drug Cartels

The United States has ordered the deployment of 10 F-35 fighter jets to an airfield in Puerto Rico to support operations targeting drug cartels, according to two anonymous sources familiar with the matter. The move adds to an already substantial U.S. military presence in the southern Caribbean and is expected to heighten regional tensions.

The deployment comes as President Donald Trump advances his campaign pledge to intensify efforts against groups accused of smuggling drugs into the United States. The fighter jets are expected to arrive by late next week and will focus on operations against designated narco-terrorist organizations operating in the region.

This announcement follows a U.S. strike on a boat three days earlier, which Trump claimed was carrying “massive amounts of drugs” from Venezuela, resulting in the deaths of 11 people. The strike signals a potential broader military campaign in Latin America.

In addition to the fighter jets, the U.S. has deployed seven warships and one nuclear-powered fast attack submarine to the southern Caribbean, carrying over 4,500 sailors and Marines. Forces from the 22nd Marine Expeditionary Unit have been conducting amphibious training and flight operations in southern Puerto Rico.

The military buildup has increased pressure on Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro, whom U.S. Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth described as “effectively a kingpin of a drug narco state.” Speaking at a rare news conference in Caracas, Maduro accused the U.S. of attempting a regime change through military threats.

U.S. officials have not disclosed the legal grounds for the airstrike on the vessel or detailed the type of drugs involved. Trump asserted that the crew were members of the Venezuelan gang Tren de Aragua, which the U.S. designated as a terrorist organization in February, though no evidence has been provided.