U.S. F-35s Heading to Puerto Rico

• it is important to underline that the 5th-generation aircraft is not simply a “fighter.”
• Trump asserted that the vessel’s crew were members of Tren de Aragua.
• the stealth fighters would be able to launch closer to the hot zone.

Ten F-35 Lightning II fighter jets will recently deployed to Puerto Rico next week as tensions with Venezuela increase. According to a report by Reuters, which first published the news on 5 September. 5, 2025, the move is a consequence of the flight of two Venezuelan F-16s near a U.S. vessel.

Hours after the announcement, Venezuelan jets flew a second time over a U.S. warship, identified as the USS Jason Dunham. The official report states that on 2 September, the U.S. military carried out a lethal strike against a suspected Venezuelan drug vessel in the southern Caribbean, killing 11 people on board. This was the first known use of direct military force against a drug cartel’s maritime operations since the deployment of additional U.S. warships to the region.

U.S. Response to Flyovers

After the first flight, the Pentagon defined it as a “highly provocative move designed to interfere with our counter-narco-terror operations.” According to officials, President Trump is evaluating multiple options to carry out strikes against drug cartels operating in Venezuela.

Additionally, although it is unclear if the event is related, three KC-46A tankers arrived at St. Croix, the largest airport in the U.S. Virgin Islands. However, details about the service branch and the variant of the aircraft are unknown.

Aircraft type

Two possibilities could be the Air Force’s F-35As and the Marines’ F-35B. Both have their own advantages, with the F-35B also able to operate from the USS Iwo Jima, which was spotted in the area at the time.

Operating from the USS Iwo Jima, the stealth fighters would be able to launch closer to the hot zone, while maintaining a degree of unpredictability as the ship keeps moving. Flying from land bases in Puerto Rico, the F-35As might need to fly a much longer route to reach their targets, although they would be able to reach Venezuela without the need for air-to-air refuelling.

While some interpret the deployment as a way to pre-position a key strike asset closer to potential targets, the immediate role of the F-35s is primarily to deter further provocative actions against U.S. vessels in the region. At the same time, it is important to underline that the 5th-generation aircraft is not simply a “fighter.” The Lightning II is a highly versatile platform that combines advanced strike capabilities with an unmatched ability to act as an intelligence-gathering asset, thanks to its powerful AESA radar and a full suite of integrated sensors.

U.S. Strike on Suspected Drug Vessel

Although regarded by some officials as a decisive step against narco-terrorism, the strike has also drawn scrutiny over its legality, proportionality, and broader implications. Trump asserted that the vessel’s crew were members of Tren de Aragua, a Venezuelan gang designated as a Foreign Terrorist Organisation by the U.S. State Department in February.