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Trumps says Venezuelan jets will be shot down if they endanger US ships

September 6, 2025

Tensions between the U.S. and Venezuela have escalated after Venezuelan military aircraft flew near a U.S. vessel for the second consecutive day, following a U.S. strike against what officials claimed was a Venezuelan drug-carrying vessel that killed 11 people. President Donald Trump has warned that Venezuelan jets would be "shot down" if they put U.S. naval ships in danger, while Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro has denied U.S. allegations and called for respect and dialogue. The U.S. is reinforcing its military presence in the Caribbean, deploying additional naval vessels, thousands of marines and sailors, and sending 10 F-35 fighter jets to Puerto Rico as part of intensified anti-drug-trafficking efforts under Trump's administration.

Who is affected

  • U.S. naval forces in the Caribbean
  • Venezuelan military
  • Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro
  • The 11 people killed in the U.S. strike against an alleged drug vessel
  • Members of Tren de Aragua gang
  • U.S. citizens potentially impacted by drug trafficking

What action is being taken

  • The U.S. is bolstering its military forces in the southern Caribbean
  • The U.S. is deploying additional naval vessels and thousands of marines and sailors
  • The White House is sending 10 F-35 fighter jets to Puerto Rico
  • Trump has doubled the reward for information leading to Maduro's arrest to $50 million
  • Venezuelan military aircraft are flying near U.S. vessels

Why it matters

  • The situation represents a significant escalation in tensions between the U.S. and Venezuela
  • Trump's warnings about shooting down Venezuelan aircraft raise the possibility of direct military conflict
  • The dispute centers on U.S. allegations of drug trafficking from Venezuela, which Maduro denies
  • The U.S. has formally designated the Tren de Aragua gang as a terrorist organization
  • The military buildup in the Caribbean reflects Trump's intensified anti-drug-trafficking efforts in Latin America

What's next

  • No explicit next steps stated in the article

Read full article from source: BBC