The U.S. government is deploying 10 F-35 stealth fighter jets to Puerto Rico for operations against drug cartels.
This deployment comes amidst escalating tensions with Venezuela, following a provocative encounter between Venezuelan F-16s and a U.S. destroyer.
The move is part of a broader U.S. counter-narcotics campaign targeting the Venezuelan government, which Washington accuses of deep involvement in drug trafficking, having previously deployed warships, offered bounties for Maduro, and conducted an airstrike on a suspected criminal boat.
The U.S. government has ordered 10 F-35 stealth fighter jets to Puerto Rico as tensions mount with Venezuela.
Reuters reported Friday that the aircraft were deployed to an unspecified airfield in Puerto Rico to support operations against drug cartels. It was not immediately clear what branch of the military they are from or exactly how they will be used.
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Zach Vasile is a writer and editor covering news in all aspects of aviation. He has reported for and contributed to the Manchester Journal Inquirer, the Hartford Business Journal, the Charlotte Observer, and the Washington Examiner, with his area of focus being the intersection of business and government policy.
