On September 5, 2025, CBS News reported that the United States is sending 10 F-35 fighter jets to Puerto Rico to bolster operations against Latin American drug cartels. The move comes after a recent U.S. strike destroyed a boat carrying suspected traffickers and narcotics, escalating tensions with Venezuela. Earlier, in late August, the U.S. deployed three Aegis guided-missile destroyers—the USS Gravely, USS Jason Dunham, and USS Sampson—to waters near Venezuela as part of President Trump’s broader campaign to target cartels blamed for fueling fentanyl and drug crises across U.S. communities. The situation intensified when two Venezuelan F-16s flew over the USS Jason Dunham in what Pentagon officials described as a “show of force.” While it is unclear how the U.S. destroyer responded, the deployment of advanced aircraft and naval assets highlights Washington’s increasing reliance on military tools to combat the regional drug trade and deter challenges from hostile state actors like Venezuela. The report underscores how drug trafficking has become both a criminal and geopolitical flashpoint in the Americas.
To understand why the U.S is moving destroyers, you have to identify the motive: target U.S fentanyl consumption. Who’s bringing in the fentanyl? Cartels. Blamed for fueling fentanyl and drug crises across U.S. communities, cartels are in the hot seat. What gives the U.S. the authority to blow them up? President Trump found a loophole: designate them as terrorist organizations. Since the cartels are killing so many U.S citizens, I think he found it worth the publicity risk.
As a result, the situation escalated. Two Venezuelan F-16s flew over the USS Jason Dunham in what Pentagon officials described as a “show of force.” While it is unclear how the U.S. destroyer responded, the deployment of advanced aircraft and naval assets highlights Washington’s increasing reliance on military tools to combat the regional drug trade and deter challenges from hostile state actors, such as Venezuela. The CBS report, therefore, underscores how drug trafficking has become both a criminal and geopolitical flashpoint in the Americas.
The conflict is significant because the U.S. military is likely to continue its presence in the area through patrols in Puerto Rico and in the Caribbean. Venezuela might respond with more fly-overs to further demonstrate its sovereignty in opposition to the U.S.
I believe that drug cartels will alter their smuggling route to avoid detection. Additionally, I see them using smaller boats. If the cartels use smaller boats, then the U.S will have achieved less by destroying them. Finally, I suspect the cartels will use boats more heavily disguised as civilian vessels. Even if the ships are busted, they likely won’t be destroyed.