The Pentagon Responds to Venezuela's Provocation of U.S. Ships in the Caribbean

The U.S. Department of Defense (the Pentagon) warned Venezuela against any military escalation after two Venezuelan fighter jets flew over a U.S. Navy ship that was sailing in international waters south of the Caribbean Sea, in an incident that Washington described as "extremely provocative and dangerous."

In an official statement from the Pentagon, it was stated that "the United States is closely monitoring the situation, and any attempt to threaten U.S. forces will be met with a decisive response," emphasizing that the U.S. ship was conducting routine surveillance missions in the area as part of anti-drug trafficking operations.

The incident comes amid escalating tensions between Washington and Caracas, as the administration of U.S. President Donald Trump continues to accuse Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro of leading an international drug trafficking cartel.

In a notable escalation, Washington doubled the financial reward offered for information leading to Maduro's arrest to $50 million.

In a new development, Trump announced that U.S. forces launched an armed attack last Tuesday on a drug-laden boat that had set off from the Venezuelan coast heading towards the United States, confirming that the operation resulted in the death of 11 "drug terrorists," as he put it.

Agence France-Presse was unable to independently verify the details of the incident, but this attack represents an unprecedented escalation, as the United States has relied on unarmed seizures for decades in its fight against drug trafficking.

At the same time, the U.S. Navy has increased its presence off the coast of Venezuela, where warships and a nuclear submarine have been spotted in the area, in a buildup described as "mysterious and concerning," amid fears that the conflict could escalate into an open confrontation in the Caribbean.

Washington confirmed that it "will not tolerate any threat to its security or the security of its forces," while no official comment has yet been issued by the Venezuelan government regarding the incident.