What U.S. military actions could follow the massive buildup of naval forces near Venezuela?.

U.S. forces have expanded their presence across the Caribbean and near Venezuela’s northern coast amid rising regional tension. Army Recognition assesses that the buildup could support a range of possible missions, from deterrence to counter-narcotics operations.

In this exclusive analysis, Army Recognition examines the ongoing deployment of U.S. armed forces across the Caribbean Sea and near Venezuela’s northern coast, where a sharp escalation in naval, air, and special operations activity reflects Washington’s growing pressure on the Maduro regime. Backed by a renewed military footprint in Puerto Rico and the U.S. Virgin Islands, the United States has already conducted lethal interdiction strikes against suspected drug cartel vessels in recent weeks, killing more than 60 individuals.
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Amid escalating tensions, Washington reinforces its military presence near Venezuela while both leaders navigate mounting geopolitical pressure. (Editorial photo illustration)

Now, with carrier groups, amphibious warships, and special operations platforms positioned within striking range of Venezuelan territory, Army Recognition’s editorial team assesses that multiple operational contingencies are possible, including precision strikes, maritime blockades, or limited raids against strategic targets, though no U.S. plan or directive has been confirmed.

Chronology of U.S. Forces Deployment in the Caribbean

August 2025:

The initial phase of the buildup began with the arrival of a layered U.S. naval force into the Caribbean, including Arleigh Burke-class guided-missile destroyers USS Stockdale, USS Gravely, and USS Jason Dunham, the Ticonderoga-class cruiser USS Lake Erie, and a Virginia-class nuclear-powered submarine. Amphibious and special operations–capable vessels such as the Wasp-class USS Iwo Jima and San Antonio-class USS San Antonio were deployed to support the rapid insertion of Marine Expeditionary Units, Marine Raiders, and Special Operations Forces.

The MV Ocean Trader, a known SOF support ship, was tracked off Puerto Rico and as close as 78 miles from Venezuelan waters. These ships were supported logistically by the USNS Joshua Humphreys and a growing number of air assets, including P-8A Poseidon maritime patrol aircraft and MQ-9 Reaper drones. Regional infrastructure was activated or upgraded at Naval Air Station Key West, Rafael Hernández Airport in Aguadilla, Puerto Rico, and Henry E. Rohlsen Airport in St. Croix.

September 3 to October 27, 2025:

A surge of Boeing C-17 Globemaster III transport flights moved equipment, ammunition, radar systems, and SOF infrastructure into Puerto Rico and the Virgin Islands, establishing forward logistics nodes. U.S. Air Force and Marine Corps aircraft, including KC-130Js and V-22 Ospreys, began operating from regional airstrips.

September 17, 2025:

Satellite imagery confirmed construction crews were clearing and resurfacing taxiways at the former Roosevelt Roads Naval Station in Ceiba, Puerto Rico. By late September, the base was operational again, hosting F-35s, drones, and tiltrotor aircraft under forward-deployed air combat operations.

Mid-October 2025:

At Rafael Hernández Airport, satellite images showed deployment of a mobile air traffic control tower, MQ-9 drones, and construction of ammunition storage bunkers. Analysts concluded the airport had become a dual-use launch site for long-duration surveillance and potentially armed drone strikes.

September to October 2025:

In the U.S. Virgin Islands, significant upgrades were observed at Henry E. Rohlsen Airport on Saint Croix. A new radar array was installed, and aprons were expanded, enhancing its role in regional ISR coordination and fighter refueling.

Late October 2025:

The USS Gerald R. Ford (CVN-78) carrier strike group, including the USS Lake Erie, USS Gravely, USS Stockdale, and aviation support from over 75 aircraft, began transitioning from the Adriatic Sea toward the Caribbean. This marked the most powerful U.S. carrier deployment to the region in over two decades. Amphibious ships and special operations vessels remained in forward staging positions off Puerto Rico and the Leeward Islands.

Since early September 2025:

U.S. forces have conducted 14 kinetic interdiction strikes on alleged drug-trafficking vessels across the Caribbean and eastern Pacific, resulting in 61 fatalities. Several of these operations occurred near Venezuelan maritime boundaries, intensifying friction with Caracas.

Venezuelan Responses and Force Dispositions

In response, President Nicolás Maduro placed the Fuerza Armada Nacional Bolivariana (FANB) on alert. Venezuelan leadership accused Washington of preparing a regime-change operation and deployed air-defense units and militia formations to critical coastal zones.

Venezuela’s layered air defense system includes the Russian-built S-300VM (Antey-2500), the Buk-M2E, and Pechora-2M missile systems. For close-range protection, Maduro has publicly claimed that over 5,000 Igla-S MANPADS have been distributed nationwide. The Venezuelan Air Force retains around 20 to 30 Su-30MK2 fighters and a small number of legacy F-16s, but operational readiness is believed to be low. Radar coverage is critically degraded, with over 60 percent of early warning systems offline outside the Caracas–La Orchila corridor.

Despite these defensive layers, most analysts agree Venezuela cannot withstand a modern U.S. joint-force operation. Its air defenses could impose limited tactical losses but are unlikely to deny access or prevent a determined U.S. strike package from achieving objectives.

Analysis: What It All Signals

The United States has now established a fully functional expeditionary architecture across the Caribbean. From Roosevelt Roads to St. Croix, and with the Gerald R. Ford carrier group afloat, the Pentagon holds the capability to conduct 24/7 ISR coverage, maritime interdiction, precision airstrikes, and special operations missions deep inside Venezuelan territory. These assets provide Washington with a broad menu of military options ranging from limited kinetic actions to sustained campaign-level operations.

Implications and Escalation Risks

As of November 2025, three core military options are assessed as executable based on current force positioning:

1. Limited Precision Strikes

The U.S. could initiate targeted attacks on Venezuelan radar sites, missile launchers, command centers, or suspected narco-linked airfields. These operations would likely involve F-35s, B-1B bombers, and Tomahawk missiles launched from destroyers and submarines. Precision-guided munitions would be used to neutralize high-value targets while avoiding escalation to full-scale conflict.

2. Maritime and Air Blockade

The U.S. Navy could enforce a joint interdiction zone off Venezuela’s northern coast, leveraging carrier-based ISR aircraft, destroyers, and unmanned systems. This blockade would aim to disrupt arms smuggling, drug exports, and sanctioned personnel movements, while also containing Venezuelan military activity within coastal waters and airspace.

3. Special Operations Forces Campaign

Covert operations using elite units are already supported by the presence of the MV Ocean Trader, regional SOF staging sites, and drone surveillance. Likely SOF missions include:

- Direct Action Raids:
Navy SEALs or Delta Force elements could conduct precision strikes on missile batteries, air defense nodes, or regime bunkers via stealthy helicopter or small boat insertions.

- Reconnaissance and Target Designation
Marine Raiders or Army Special Forces could operate behind Venezuelan lines to identify, track, and laser-designate strategic targets for follow-on airstrikes.

- Hostage Rescue and Extraction
If American or allied personnel are captured or threatened, JSOC units could execute rapid exfiltration missions, launched from nearby amphibious ships or forward airfields.

These operations offer low-footprint, high-impact outcomes but carry significant risk if teams are compromised or casualties occur, potentially drawing in regional or extra-hemispheric actors such as Russia or Iran.

The U.S. military presence in the Caribbean is now more than a signal. It is a fully realized operational posture capable of direct action. The revitalization of Roosevelt Roads, the forward presence of amphibious and special warfare ships, and the deployment of the Gerald R. Ford strike group give Washington precision and escalation flexibility. Whether the next phase involves surgical strikes, a blockade, or SOF missions, the groundwork for action against Venezuela has already been laid. What remains is the political decision, and the threshold Caracas may or may not be prepared to cross.

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.