The Trump administration will reportedly send 10 F-35 fighter jets to Puerto Rico, increasing U.S. military capabilities in the southern Caribbean as part of a campaign against drug cartels.
The deployment, expected to be in Puerto Rico by late next week, aims to target designated narco-terrorist organizations operating in the region, sources told Reuters. The F-35s, renowned for their stealth and combat proficiency, will reportedly bolster an already substantial U.S. military presence in the region in line with President Donald Trump’s commitment to combating drug trafficking into the country.
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U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio warned Wednesday that the Trump administration was “going to wage war” on the drug cartels, suggesting that more strikes should be expected.
Trump has accused Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro of overseeing the Tren de Aragua gang, deemed a terrorist organization back in February, according to Reuters. The Venezuelan government has denied allegations by the Trump administration that they are involved in drug trafficking.
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He condemned the U.S. military presence as “an extravagant, unjustifiable, immoral and absolutely criminal and bloody threat.”
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News of the F-35s’ imminent deployment reportedly came hours after the Pentagon claimed Venezuelan planes carried out a “provocative” flyover of an American warship, Reuters reported.
* Original Article:
https://dailycaller.com/2025/09/05/report-us-to-deploy-fighter-jets-to-puerto-rico-in-campaign-against-drug-cartels/