U.S. Deploys More Warships and F-35 Stealth Fighter Jets Near Venezuela Amid Rising Tensions.

The U.S. has deployed warships, F-35 stealth fighter jets, and Marines to the Caribbean near Venezuela. The buildup, framed as counter-narcotics, signals readiness for possible strikes.

A U.S. naval and air task force featuring stealth fighters, missile destroyers, and Marine amphibious forces has been positioned across the Caribbean, signaling Washington’s readiness for operations that could extend into Venezuelan territory. While the United States frames the mission as counter-narcotics and counterterrorism, the scale and composition of the deployment reflect strike capabilities far beyond maritime interdiction, underscoring a potential escalation against Venezuela’s state-linked cartels and defenses.
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The forces deployed by U.S. SOUTHCOM in the vicinity of Venezuela as of September 15, 2025, including guided-missile destroyers, amphibious ships with embarked Marines, and F-35A stealth fighters forward-deployed to Puerto Rico. (Picture Source: X, The Dead District, September 15, 2025)

The deployment includes ten F-35A Lightning II stealth fighters now based in Puerto Rico. These fifth-generation multirole aircraft provide unmatched surveillance, electronic warfare, and strike capabilities, enabling U.S. forces to conduct deep penetration missions against hardened or defended targets. Their presence offers immediate response options against Venezuelan radar systems, airbases, or cartel-linked infrastructure.

Naval power in the region has expanded significantly. At least three Arleigh Burke-class guided-missile destroyers, USS Jason Dunham, USS Gravely, and USS Sampson, are now operating off the Venezuelan coast. Each is equipped with more than 90 vertical launch cells capable of firing Tomahawk cruise missiles, surface-to-air interceptors, and anti-submarine weapons. These ships form the core of a high-readiness strike group with the ability to engage multiple targets simultaneously across air, land, and sea.

Reinforcing this fleet is the Iwo Jima Amphibious Ready Group, which includes the amphibious assault ship USS Iwo Jima, the USS San Antonio, and the USS Fort Lauderdale. Together, they carry more than 4,500 sailors and Marines from the 22nd Marine Expeditionary Unit, supported by AV-8B Harrier II jets, rotary-wing assets, and MV-22B Osprey tiltrotor aircraft. These platforms offer vertical assault, air support, and rapid ground insertion capabilities suitable for seizing coastal installations or executing limited high-impact raids.

Additional naval units include the guided-missile cruiser USS Lake Erie, the littoral combat ship Minneapolis-St. Paul, and at least one nuclear-powered fast-attack submarine operating covertly in the Caribbean Sea. These assets extend U.S. underwater dominance, sea control, and intelligence-gathering coverage across the region.

Surveillance and targeting support are provided by long-range P-8 Poseidon patrol aircraft and MQ-9 Reaper drones conducting persistent intelligence, surveillance, and reconnaissance missions over suspected cartel operating zones. Analysts assess that data from these flights is feeding real-time target packages for potential offensive operations on land or sea.

Covert units from U.S. Special Operations Forces are also present aboard naval platforms and forward locations. These teams are believed to be tasked with executing direct action raids, high-value target captures, or sabotage missions against cartel command structures protected by elements of the Venezuelan state. Their insertion into the operating theater aligns with long-standing doctrines for shaping the battlefield ahead of broader kinetic engagements.

Onshore in Puerto Rico and the U.S. Virgin Islands, American logistics hubs have expanded rapidly to support high-intensity operations. Mobile refueling stations, precision munition storage, and tactical command-and-control nodes have been activated to sustain air sorties and maritime maneuvering. These logistical layers enable sustained multi-domain operations without dependence on continental U.S. bases.

This military footprint follows the implementation of a classified presidential directive signed in July authorizing the use of force against designated narco-terrorist networks in Latin America. The document also provides authority for cross-border strikes against any government determined to be enabling or protecting such networks. This legal basis positions Venezuela’s state-aligned cartels within the target envelope of U.S. military action.

While no official declaration of hostilities has been issued, the operational conditions in the Caribbean now resemble pre-intervention force configurations observed in previous U.S. military campaigns. The convergence of naval firepower, stealth air superiority, amphibious landing forces, and special operations units presents a fully integrated combat force capable of rapid escalation.

Should orders be given, initial strikes would likely focus on disabling Venezuela’s integrated air defense systems, neutralizing radar installations near La Orchila, Barcelona, and Sucre, and disrupting key naval bases along the Paria Peninsula. Secondary targets may include cartel logistics hubs, clandestine airstrips, and communications nodes suspected of coordinating transnational narcotics operations.

The current maritime and aerial perimeter enforced by U.S. forces also allows for a blockade-like posture, restricting vessel traffic and interdicting suspected drug shipments. However, the presence of advanced strike platforms and precision-capable destroyers suggests the mission is not limited to containment. Instead, it appears structured to enable a flexible, graduated response ranging from surgical raids to sustained campaign options.

This evolving military alignment in the Caribbean underscores a strategic shift in Washington’s approach toward the Maduro government. Whether future operations remain confined to counter-cartel engagements or extend into political-military decapitation strikes will depend on decisions taken in the coming days. What is evident is that U.S. forces now possess the tools, platforms, and proximity to launch a wide spectrum of operations with Venezuela at the center of a rapidly tightening ring of combat readiness.

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.