Overview

• Five F-35 fighters landed in Puerto Rico to support a sustained U.S. deployment that also includes eight warships and a nuclear-powered submarine near Venezuela.
• President Trump said “we’ll see what happens” when asked about potential attacks and accused Venezuela of exporting criminals and drugs, citing counternarcotics goals after a recent strike that killed 11 alleged traffickers.
• Venezuela alleges the destroyer USS Jason Dunham boarded and detained a Venezuelan tuna boat for eight hours near La Blanquilla and says it will take the case to international bodies, while the U.S. has not responded publicly.
• Defense Minister Vladimir Padrino reports U.S. intelligence flights have tripled and shifted to night operations, identifying RC-135, E-3 AWACS, KC-135, and P-8 aircraft over the Caribbean.
• Maduro’s government activated Plan Independencia 200 with training in 312 units and weekly militia drills, and warned Guyana and Trinidad and Tobago that any attack launched from their territory would prompt a response.