The Venezuelan government recently expressed concerns about what it described as “illegal intrusions” into its coastal airspace by five American fighter jets, accusing the U.S. of creating a “pattern of harassment.”
The announcement followed claims by Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth, who reported that four “narcoterrorists” were eliminated in a series of U.S. strikes on a boat in the Caribbean near Venezuela.
A joint statement from Venezuela’s Ministry of Defense and Foreign Affairs revealed that a U.S. fighter jet had been detected about 75 kilometers from the Venezuelan coast.
Defense Minister Vladimir Padrino noted that U.S. F-35s were identified by the country’s air defense systems in the Michaelcícia Flight Information Area, as reported by the Venezuelan news agency AVN.
“They’re fighters,” Padrino stated during a television appearance. “An aircraft that American imperialism chose to bring closer to Venezuela’s coast.”
“I’ve never seen this type of aircraft outside of its station in Puerto Rico, where the F-35s are known to be based,” he added.
The ministry emphasized that such actions undermine national sovereignty and breach international law, specifically referencing the Chicago Convention on International Civil Aviation.
“This serious incident is part of a troubling pattern of previous illegal incursions, which the Bolivarian government has condemned,” the statement continued.
Hegseth later mentioned that the U.S. military had conducted strikes “in international waters” off the Venezuelan coast.
He declared that intelligence had confirmed the ship was involved in drug trafficking, asserting on social media that President Trump had ordered the strike. “We will keep striking until the attacks on Americans cease!” he exclaimed.
This latest strike marks the fourth time U.S. forces have targeted vessels believed to be transporting drugs toward the U.S.
Experts are voicing worries over potential violations of international law due to these strikes. On Thursday, Trump retroactively justified the action by stating that the U.S. is in an “armed conflict” with the drug cartel, which is labeled as a terrorist organization by his administration.
