The United States sent two fighter jets over the Gulf of Venezuela on Tuesday, which might be the closest military aircraft have ventured into Venezuelan airspace, as per reports.
Flightradar24 tracked the F/A-18s flying over the waters north of Venezuela for about half an hour, according to the Associated Press.
A U.S. defense official, who wished to remain anonymous, characterized the brief mission as a “routine training flight” aimed at showcasing the aircraft’s operational capabilities.
The official did not confirm whether the jets were armed but emphasized that the operation was conducted entirely in international airspace.
This flight marks an increase in U.S. military activity in the vicinity following months of similar operations.
Historically, the U.S. has operated B-52 Stratofortress and B-1 Lancer bombers off Venezuela’s coast, but those missions didn’t appear to approach as closely as the recent F/A-18 flights.
The uptick in activity began after the U.S. targeted vessels suspected of drug smuggling in both the Caribbean and eastern Pacific.
Reports regarding U.S. actions against ships believed to have departed from Venezuela with illegal drugs surfaced in September.
The Trump administration has deemed these operations vital for fighting drug trafficking, a claim Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro refutes.
Tensions over Venezuelan airspace heightened in November when President Trump advised airlines to regard the area as effectively closed, aligning with an FAA warning issued to commercial flights.
Retired Rear Admiral Mark Montgomery, senior director at the Center for Cyber and Technology Innovation, informed Fox News Digital that Venezuela’s most significant military threat stems from its air and naval capabilities.
He mentioned the presence of fighter jets, limited naval vessels, and Russian surface-to-air missiles. Montgomery remarked, “Reasonably speaking, we can eliminate air and sea threats to U.S. forces within the first day or two of operational planning.”
Isaias Medina, an international lawyer and former Venezuelan diplomat, noted that while Venezuela’s military strength may appear formidable on paper, its actual capabilities fall short.
