US Military Flies Supersonic B-1 Bombers Near Venezuelan Coast Amid Rising Tensions

The U.S. military recently conducted multiple training flights involving supersonic B-1 Lancer and B-52 Stratofortress bombers near Venezuelan airspace, demonstrating increased military presence in the Caribbean aimed at pressuring Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro. These operations, which included Marine Corps F-35B stealth fighter jets and other assets such as warships, maritime patrol aircraft, drones, and submarines, form part of a broader campaign targeting alleged drug trafficking networks and signaling a show of force. While President Trump denied that these flights were intended to escalate military pressure on Venezuela, the extensive U.S. deployments and strikes on vessels accused of drug trafficking have intensified speculation about potential actions to oust Maduro. The Pentagon described these missions as deterrence and attack demonstrations, but some analysts and reports suggest the underlying goal is regime change in Venezuela. This military buildup coincides with ongoing regional tensions and concerns about Maduro's alliances, highlighting Washington's renewed focus on asserting dominance in the Western Hemisphere and countering transnational threats. Despite the official stance, the campaign has drawn criticism for extrajudicial killings at sea and lack of evidence supporting narcoterrorism claims used to justify the operations.