San Juan: A squadron of advanced U.S. F-35 stealth fighters touched down at the former Roosevelt Roads naval base in Ceiba, Puerto Rico, on Saturday, signaling Washington’s growing military presence in the Caribbean at a time of heightened friction with Venezuela. The deployment comes days after President Donald Trump ordered ten of the aircraft to the region, citing the need to intensify counter-narcotics operations.
Eyewitnesses confirmed that five of the F-35s arrived over the weekend, supported by helicopters, Osprey tilt-rotor aircraft, and military transport planes. Roosevelt Roads, once a linchpin of U.S. naval operations, offers an ideal launch point for missions across the Caribbean. The arrival of stealth jets at this location is being interpreted as both a practical measure against narcotics routes and a powerful symbol of U.S. resolve.
Washington has framed the buildup as part of its long-standing campaign against drug cartels, which exploit Caribbean Sea lanes to traffic narcotics into the United States. Yet, the presence of F-35s aircraft designed for advanced stealth, aerial combat, and precision strikes raises questions about whether the deployment also serves as a show of force against Caracas. Venezuela’s air force, still operating aging F-16 fighters, cannot match the technological edge of the U.S. jets, intensifying perceptions of imbalance.
The Maduro government has already accused the U.S. of escalating hostilities. Caracas condemned a recent U.S. operation that killed 11 people aboard a vessel Washington claimed was carrying narcotics. Venezuela disputes the allegation, insisting that those killed were civilians. Another flashpoint emerged when a U.S. destroyer intercepted a Venezuelan tuna boat, prompting Venezuela to denounce the incident as a violation of its sovereignty.
Despite the buildup, U.S. officials insist the mission is not aimed at regime change in Venezuela. Administration sources emphasize that the jets will support interdiction, surveillance, and counter-smuggling operations. Still, analysts note that the optics of sending the Pentagon’s most advanced fighter jets into a politically sensitive region are bound to fuel suspicion. With Venezuela already locked in diplomatic confrontation with Washington, the deployment risks further inflaming nationalist rhetoric in Caracas.
The arrival of the F-35s carries wider significance for the Americas. For allies, it reaffirms U.S. security commitments to the Caribbean basin. For adversaries, it illustrates Washington’s readiness to mobilize its most sophisticated tools in response to what it views as destabilizing threats. Observers caution that such military gestures, if not paired with diplomatic engagement, could harden Venezuela’s stance and complicate regional stability.
It remains unclear whether the full complement of ten F-35s ordered by the White House has reached Puerto Rico or whether more will arrive in the coming days. Questions also linger about how frequently the jets will be deployed on missions and whether their role will extend beyond surveillance and interdiction. For now, the sight of stealth fighters on Puerto Rican soil underscores a familiar dynamic in U.S.–Venezuelan relations: the intersection of security policy, political rivalry, and strategic messaging.