The United States is sending 10 F-35 fighter jets to Puerto Rico to strengthen operations against drug cartels in the southern Caribbean. This deployment adds to the existing US presence of seven warships, a nuclear-powered submarine, and over 4,500 personnel, Reuters reported.
The move aligns with President Donald Trump’s effort to curb drug trafficking into US. The jets, expected to arrive by late next week, will focus on designated narco-terrorist groups.
The escalation follows a US strike on a boat allegedly carrying drugs from Venezuela, which left 11 dead. The Pentagon has labeled Venezuela’s government a “narco-trafficking cartel,” a claim denied by President Nicolas Maduro, further heightening regional tensions, according to Reuters.
