U.S. Defense Secretary Signals Readiness for Caribbean Strikes Near Venezuela.

U.S. Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth said he has “every authorization needed” to carry out strikes in the Caribbean targeting suspected narcotics vessels near Venezuela. His comments underscore a more assertive regional posture that could heighten tensions with Venezuela.

U.S. Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth declared on October 5, 2025, that he holds “every authorization needed” to conduct military strikes in the Caribbean against ships allegedly transporting narcotics near Venezuelan waters. The statement, first reported by Reuters, comes amid intensified U.S. naval activity and signals a shift from traditional interdiction efforts toward deterrence and coercive pressure on Caracas. It matters because the move could redefine U.S. regional defense strategy and escalate diplomatic strains in the hemisphere.
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U.S. Marine Corps F-35B Lightning II stealth fighter jets conduct low-altitude training operations over the Caribbean Sea as part of increased U.S. military activity near Venezuela, October 2025. (Picture source U.S. Southern Command)

In a televised statement, Hegseth defended the legality of these actions, saying the operations target groups designated as foreign terrorist organizations, thus qualifying them under counterterrorism authorities rather than law enforcement protocols. The Pentagon has not yet disclosed evidence confirming the presence of narcotics aboard the targeted vessels, but sources close to U.S. Southern Command say the campaign now forms part of a broader effort to dismantle organized transnational criminal networks linked to Venezuela’s military and political elite.

Over recent weeks, at least four U.S. strikes have been reported in the southern Caribbean. The latest, conducted on October 3, destroyed a small vessel off Venezuela’s coast, killing four people. In September, former President Donald Trump acknowledged a U.S. strike on what he described as a Venezuelan-operated narcotics boat linked to the Tren de Aragua gang, resulting in eleven deaths. Both operations were executed under new engagement authorities allowing military force in counter-cartel missions.

U.S. Military Capabilities Near Venezuela

Army Recognition’s analysis of open-source imagery and defense briefings indicates that the U.S. force posture off Venezuela now represents a full-spectrum maritime strike package, extending beyond traditional anti-smuggling operations. The deployment includes Arleigh Burke-class guided-missile destroyers, a Virginia-class nuclear-powered attack submarine, and elements of an amphibious ready group reportedly centered around the USS Iwo Jima. These assets bring layered air, surface, and land-attack capability, including Tomahawk cruise missiles and advanced electronic warfare systems.

Air support has intensified with F-35A Lightning II jets deployed to forward bases in Puerto Rico and Curaçao, giving the U.S. a stealth strike and intelligence-gathering reach across the Caribbean Basin. Complementing these assets, P-8A Poseidon patrol aircraft and MQ-9B SeaGuardian drones are conducting continuous maritime domain awareness and targeting missions. Sources at U.S. Southern Command confirm that intelligence fusion centers in Key West and Puerto Rico are coordinating surveillance from space-based and airborne platforms, providing near real-time tracking of suspected narcotics vessels and paramilitary movements along the Venezuelan coast.

This networked force architecture enables the U.S. to detect and engage threats far from shore, combining long-range precision strike with persistent surveillance and electronic dominance. Should operations intensify, the existing posture would allow Washington to impose a maritime exclusion zone or conduct precision strikes against coastal infrastructure within hours of a presidential order.

Venezuela’s Response Capabilities

Across the strait, Venezuela maintains a sizable but uneven defense structure. The Bolivarian National Armed Forces (FANB) possess some credible assets inherited from previous modernization programs, yet operational readiness has declined significantly in recent years due to maintenance shortages and economic strain.

The Venezuelan Air Force’s main deterrent force consists of Su-30MK2 Flanker multirole fighters, backed by a handful of aging F-16A/B aircraft. While the Su-30s provide long-range engagement potential with Russian R-77 air-to-air missiles, analysts estimate that fewer than a dozen remain fully serviceable. The country also fields a layered air defense network based on Russian S-300VM Antey-2500 surface-to-air missile systems, deployed around Caracas and strategic bases such as Maracay and Barcelona. These systems, if properly maintained, can threaten high-altitude aircraft and potentially restrict U.S. access to Venezuelan airspace.

Venezuela’s navy, while large in nominal terms, remains constrained by limited maintenance and spare parts. Its fleet includes coastal patrol vessels, missile boats, and corvettes, but lacks modern sensors and area-defense systems to counter advanced U.S. naval platforms. Caracas is believed to possess several shore-based anti-ship missile batteries, which could challenge U.S. vessels approaching its territorial waters but would be rapidly neutralized by preemptive strikes.

Perhaps the most unpredictable element of Venezuela’s defense is its vast network of paramilitary and militia forces. President Nicolás Maduro claims that up to 4.5 million civilian militiamen have been armed and trained for territorial defense and insurgency roles. These forces, although poorly equipped, could provide asymmetric resistance in the event of a U.S. landing or an extended campaign, mirroring the distributed defense model employed by Iran and its regional allies.

Strategic Balance and Escalation Risks

The current balance of power overwhelmingly favors the United States. The U.S. Navy’s sensor fusion, strike reach, and command-and-control infrastructure outmatch Venezuela’s limited air and naval assets across all domains. Even the S-300VM batteries—potentially Venezuela’s strongest deterrent—would be vulnerable to electronic warfare, cyber disruption, and long-range standoff munitions.

Still, the risk of escalation is real. Any U.S. strike miscalculated as a violation of Venezuelan sovereignty could trigger retaliatory launches from air-defense batteries or militia attacks on U.S. maritime assets. Russia’s recent condemnation of the October 3, 2025, strike underscores the international sensitivity of the situation, with Moscow warning Washington against further “aggressive actions” in the Caribbean.

If the administration expands the campaign beyond interdiction toward coercive pressure on Caracas, the region could face a new flashpoint reminiscent of Cold War maritime standoffs. Hegseth’s declaration that he possesses full authorization for continued operations effectively grants the Pentagon operational latitude that may blur the line between counter-narcotics enforcement and military intervention.

As U.S. destroyers patrol within sight of Venezuelan waters and F-35s circle overhead, the Caribbean once again becomes a testing ground for power projection, deterrence, and the limits of presidential military authority. The question now is not whether the United States can strike, but how far it is willing to go, and how Venezuela will respond if its sovereignty is directly challenged.

Written by Alain Servaes – Chief Editor, Army Recognition Group
Alain Servaes is a former infantry non-commissioned officer and the founder of Army Recognition. With over 20 years in defense journalism, he provides expert analysis on military equipment, NATO operations, and the global defense industry.