President Donald Trump has warned that Venezuelan military jets risk being shot down if they threaten American naval vessels operating in the Caribbean, a sharp escalation in the growing standoff between Washington and Caracas.
The warning came after a tense incident earlier this week, when two Venezuelan F-16 fighter jets conducted a low-altitude pass over the USS Jason Dunham, a U.S. guided-missile destroyer patrolling in international waters near Venezuela. Pentagon officials condemned the maneuver as reckless and provocative, accusing Caracas of attempting to disrupt American counter-narcotics operations. Speaking from the Oval Office on Friday, Trump insisted U.S. forces would not hesitate to respond. “If they put us in a dangerous position, they will be shot down,” he said, adding that American commanders already have the authority to act if Venezuelan aircraft endanger U.S. ships.
The episode unfolded against the backdrop of a major U.S. military buildup in the southern Caribbean. Over the past week, the administration has sent 10 F-35 stealth fighter jets to Puerto Rico, bolstered its naval presence with destroyers and submarines, and launched an operation that sank a boat allegedly carrying members of the Venezuelan Tren de Aragua gang. That strike left 11 dead and has sparked debate over the legality of Washington’s actions in international waters.
Critics in Congress and international law experts argue that the president may be exceeding his authority. Some Democrats warn that the aggressive posture could draw the United States into a wider conflict without congressional approval. Supporters of the administration, however, insist the measures are necessary to confront what Trump has called “narco-terrorists” tied to Venezuela and other Latin American cartels.
In Caracas, President Nicolás Maduro denounced the U.S. deployments as a direct threat to Venezuela’s sovereignty. He ordered militias to mobilize and pledged armed resistance against any attack, while simultaneously suggesting that dialogue was still possible. “I respect Trump… I invite him to talk,” Maduro said, though he warned that Venezuela would defend itself if provoked.
The standoff leaves the region on edge. U.S. officials say counter-narcotics operations will continue, while Venezuelan leaders vow not to back down. With both governments trading threats, the risk of miscalculation remains high, and the international community is watching closely to see whether deterrence and diplomacy can prevail over confrontation.
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