US Deploys 10 Fighter Jets to the Caribbean; Trump Denies Attempt to Overthrow Venezuelan Regime | WPN World People News

Last week, U.S. forces destroyed a speedboat suspected of transporting drugs that had departed from Venezuela in international waters, leaving 11 people dead. On the 5th, the U.S. military further reinforced its deployment near Venezuelan waters, with President Trump ordering 10 F-35 stealth fighter jets to arrive in Puerto Rico in support of joint operations against Latin American drug cartels and transnational gangs.

President Trump stressed, “We are not talking about regime change,” denying outside claims that Washington is attempting to use military pressure to overthrow Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro. However, he added: “But we are talking about the elections in Venezuela. To put it mildly, it was a very strange election.” He was referring to last year’s Venezuelan presidential contest, which was overshadowed by allegations of election fraud.

According to U.S. officials, in addition to the F-35s, at least seven warships and one nuclear-powered attack submarine have been deployed across the southern Caribbean, with more than 4,500 Navy and Marine Corps personnel in total. The Marines have also been conducting amphibious and flight training exercises in southern Puerto Rico.

On the 4th, two Venezuelan F-16 fighter jets approached a U.S. destroyer over international waters, which Washington described as a “highly provocative” move. Maduro, meanwhile, accused the U.S. of seeking regime change under the guise of military threats and announced plans to mobilize millions of militia members in response to the American military buildup in nearby waters. He criticized Washington for “politicizing the war on drugs” and demanded that the U.S. respect Venezuela’s sovereignty and right to peace.

CNN, citing multiple sources, reported that Trump is weighing direct military strikes against drug trafficking groups inside Venezuela, including potential attacks on domestic targets. Several sources told CNN that Tuesday’s strike was merely the beginning of a larger-scale operation aimed at eliminating drug trafficking in the region — and potentially undermining Maduro’s grip on power.

During his first term, Trump made repeated attempts to oust Maduro, employing a variety of pressure tactics in hopes of pushing Venezuela toward democratic transition. Those efforts ultimately failed, and Maduro went on to secure a disputed election victory that has kept him in power to this day.