Washington expands military footprint in the Caribbean as tensions with Venezuela escalate |
The United States has reportedly expanded its military presence in the Caribbean, deploying additional troops, aircraft, and equipment amid rising tensions with Venezuela, according to a report by The Wall Street Journal. The reported buildup has intensified concerns across the region and beyond, as Washington’s increasingly confrontational posture toward Caracas raises the specter of direct military confrontation in South America for the first time in decades.
Citing US officials and open-source flight tracking data, the Wall Street Journal reported on December 24 that the Pentagon has moved a significant number of military assets closer to Venezuelan territory. These movements reportedly include special operations aircraft, transport planes, and supporting equipment, offering Washington what officials described as “additional options” for potential action against the Venezuelan government. While no specific military operation has been announced publicly, the scale and nature of the deployments have drawn heightened scrutiny from regional governments and international observers.
Among the most notable elements of the reported deployment are at least ten CV-22 Osprey tilt-rotor aircraft, which are typically associated with US special operations forces. These aircraft, capable of both vertical takeoff and long-range flight, are often used for rapid troop insertion, evacuation missions, and high-risk operations. According to the report, the Ospreys flew into the Caribbean from bases within the continental United States, signaling a level of preparedness that goes beyond routine training exercises.
In addition to the Ospreys, several........