US Deploys 10 F-35 Jets to Puerto Rico Against Drug Cartels

The Trump administration has ordered the deployment of 10 F-35 fighter jets to a Puerto Rico airfield to intensify operations against drug cartels in the southern Caribbean, reinforcing the existing substantial U.S. military presence. This move follows a recent U.S. strike on a boat allegedly carrying large quantities of drugs from Venezuela, which resulted in the deaths of 11 people and signals a potential broader military campaign in Latin America. Alongside the fighter jets, the U.S. has deployed seven warships and one nuclear-powered fast attack submarine, with over 4,500 sailors and Marines conducting amphibious training and flight operations in the region. The buildup aims to pressure Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro, whom U.S. officials accuse of leading a narco-state, while Maduro accuses the U.S. of seeking regime change through military threats. U.S. officials have not disclosed the legal basis for the airstrike or detailed the drugs involved, and President Trump claims the targeted vessel's crew were members of the Venezuelan gang Tren de Aragua, designated a terrorist organization by the U.S. earlier this year, though no evidence has been provided. This escalation is part of President Trump's campaign pledge to crack down on groups blamed for funneling drugs into the United States.