Venezuelan Military Jets Fly Near US Navy Ship Amid Rising Tensions

Tensions between the United States and Venezuela have escalated after two Venezuelan F-16 fighter jets flew near the U.S. Navy guided-missile destroyer USS Jason Dunham in international waters, an action the U.S. Department of Defense described as a "highly provocative move" and a "show of force." This incident followed a U.S. military strike authorized by President Donald Trump against a Venezuelan drug trafficking vessel linked to the Tren de Aragua gang, which Trump designated as a Foreign Terrorist Organization, resulting in 11 deaths. The U.S. Navy vessels, part of a flotilla deployed to target criminal organizations and narco-terrorism near Venezuela, have increased regional military presence amid accusations that Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro is allied with drug cartels. Maduro's government has condemned the U.S. warships as a threat and responded by deploying troops, militias, drones, and warships along the coastline. The U.S. warns Venezuela against further interference with counter-narcotics operations, emphasizing its commitment to combating drug trafficking and terrorism in the Western Hemisphere. The incident highlights the rising geopolitical conflict and the Trump administration's aggressive stance toward Venezuela and associated criminal networks.