Overview

• Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth and Joint Chiefs Chair Gen. Dan Caine quietly met officials in Puerto Rico on Sept. 8 as multiple reports pointed to 10 F-35s being repositioned to the island, a move the Pentagon has not confirmed.
• The trip follows a Sept. 2 U.S. strike that destroyed a boat in international waters and killed 11 people the administration labeled Tren de Aragua “narco‑terrorists,” with officials signaling additional operations are possible but withholding operational details.
• Venezuela escalated its posture with expanded coastal and border deployments to roughly 25,000 troops, militia training, and fighter overflights of a U.S. destroyer, while President Nicolás Maduro warned the country would shift to armed struggle if attacked.
• The campaign has split Republicans after Vice President JD Vance dismissed concerns about war crimes and Sen. Rand Paul condemned the stance, as some lawmakers press for answers and a House proposal seeks to block funding for force against Venezuela.
• Experts and former officials say redefining cartels as terrorist targets and using military force departs from Coast Guard–led interdictions, raises unresolved legal questions without a congressional mandate, and risks straining regional cooperation and triggering miscalculation.