The United States has deployed 10 F-35 fighter jets to Puerto Rico, just 550 miles (886 km) from Venezuela, alongside the helicopter carrier USS Iwo Jima (LHD-7) positioned nearby.
This move significantly boosts Washington’s military presence in the Caribbean. With the Iwo Jima’s ability to launch F-35B jets, the deployment provides the U.S. with rapid strike capacity against Venezuelan targets, should military action be considered.
For Venezuela, the threat is severe. Its air force consists of only 13 aging F-16s and 21 Su-30MK2 aircraft, which are already considered outdated. In the event of a U.S. preemptive strike, much of Venezuela’s fleet could be destroyed on the ground, leaving Caracas highly vulnerable.
This deployment underscores Washington’s readiness to project power in the region and puts Venezuela’s defenses under immense pressure.
