Daijiworld Media Network – Washington
Washington, Sep 6: US President Donald Trump on Friday warned that Venezuelan fighter jets threatening American forces would be shot down, as Washington escalated its campaign against drug cartels by deploying F-35 warplanes to Puerto Rico.
Ten advanced jets will join US Navy warships already stationed in the southern Caribbean, aimed at pressuring Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro, whom Washington accuses of running a drug cartel.
The Pentagon said two Venezuelan military aircraft recently flew close to a US Navy vessel in international waters in what it termed a “highly provocative” move. Asked about possible future encounters, Trump said: “If they do put us in a dangerous position, they’ll be shot down.”
Earlier this week, US forces destroyed a suspected drug-laden boat in the Caribbean, killing 11 people. Trump alleged the vessel belonged to Venezuelan criminal syndicate Tren de Aragua, linking it directly to Maduro.
Maduro, who dismissed Washington’s actions as “the greatest threat our continent has seen in 100 years,” has vowed to prepare Venezuela for “armed struggle in defense of the national territory.” He has mobilized the country’s 340,000-strong military along with millions of reservists.
White House Deputy Chief of Staff Stephen Miller branded Maduro an “indicted drug trafficker” while Secretary of State Marco Rubio defended the aggressive strategy, saying: “What will stop them is when you blow them up.”
Caracas, however, accused Washington of committing extrajudicial killings in the boat attack, further heightening tensions in the region.