US F-35s Detected in Venezuelan Airspace Amid High Tension

Tensions in the Caribbean have reached a peak after Venezuela announced that its radars detected the flight of five US Air Force F-35 fighter jets in the airspace of Maiquetia, about 75 km off the country's coast. Caracas described the incident as an "illegal intrusion" and a "provocation," accusing Washington of threatening its national sovereignty.

This incident is taking place against the backdrop of an unprecedented increase in US military presence near the Venezuelan coast. Although official Washington insists that its actions are part of the fight against drug cartels, many analysts, including experts from the Washington Examiner, note that the scale of the concentration of troops and equipment significantly exceeds the scope of standard anti-drug trafficking operations.

Warships, F-35 fighters, marines, and even a submarine based in Puerto Rico have been deployed to the region. According to analysts, such military power could be used not only to fight drug traffickers but also to capture Venezuelan ports and airports, effectively preparing for a possible invasion.

In recent weeks, the US has already carried out several strikes on boats that had departed from Venezuela, which, according to the American side, were transporting drugs. These actions resulted in casualties, which Caracas has described as "extrajudicial killings."

In response to US military activity, Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro announced the "maximum preparedness" of the army and civilian militia. He accuses Washington of attempting to achieve regime change under the guise of combating drugs.

Despite circulating talks of an invasion, some experts believe that US actions are more likely aimed at pressuring the Maduro government rather than launching a large-scale ground operation. Nevertheless, the concentration of military equipment and the harsh rhetoric from both sides indicate a sharp increase in the risk of confrontation in the region, where any miscalculated step could lead to unpredictable consequences.

Even many American experts consider it doubtful that this is solely related to the fight against drug cartels, pointing to the fact that the majority of lethal drugs in the US are imported not from Venezuela, but from Mexico.