US Combat Planes Near Venezuela Coast: A Provocation or Political Maneuver?
Venezuela reported the detection of five US F-35 fighter jets near its Caribbean coast, an event the country’s Defense Minister, Vladimir Padrino, labeled a “provocation” and a threat to national security. The aircraft were reportedly detected 75 kilometers from the Venezuelan coastline, outside standard territorial waters, and were observed by both Venezuelan air defense systems and an international airliner. This incident follows the deployment of US warships in the Caribbean, which Venezuela views with suspicion, particularly given the recent US strikes against suspected drug traffickers. Padrino has warned the US, stating, “We are watching you, and I want you to know that this does not intimidate us.”
John Q. Hosedrinker