U.S. Military Jets Fly Near Venezuelan Airspace
On Tuesday, the United States sent two F/A-18 fighter jets over the Gulf of Venezuela. This marked the closest military aircraft have approached Venezuelan airspace in recent history, according to various reports.
The jets were tracked for about 30 minutes flying over waters north of Venezuela, as noted by the Associated Press. A U.S. defense official, who requested to remain unnamed, described this mission as a “routine training flight,” which aimed to showcase the jets’ operational reach. The official did not confirm if the jets were armed but reassured that the operation took place entirely within international airspace.
This flight comes after months of increased U.S. military presence in the area. Previously, the U.S. had flown B-52 and B-1 bombers near Venezuela’s coast, but those aircraft did not venture as close as the F/A-18s did on Tuesday.
The uptick in military activity began following U.S. operations targeting alleged drug-smuggling boats departing from Venezuela. The first known strike took place in September, with the Trump administration claiming these actions were crucial for combating illegal drug trafficking, a statement that Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro denies.
Tensions around Venezuelan airspace escalated last November when President Trump directed airlines to treat the area as essentially closed, aligning with warnings from the FAA to civilian carriers.
Experts have noted that Venezuela’s military threats mainly come from its own air and naval capabilities, which include fighter jets and Russian-made missiles. However, some analysts argue that Venezuela’s military looks more capable on paper than in practice.
