Overview

• Five F-35 fighters arrived at the former Roosevelt Roads base in Ceiba, Puerto Rico, after President Donald Trump ordered a 10-jet deployment to reinforce operations in the Caribbean.
• Defense Minister Vladimir Padrino López says U.S. surveillance flights tripled in August and shifted to night operations, citing RC-135 and E-3 AWACS activity supported by tanker aircraft.
• Venezuela alleges the U.S. destroyer USS Jason Dunham intercepted and held a Venezuelan tuna vessel for eight hours in international waters; Washington has not issued an official response.
• Trump did not rule out strikes inside Venezuela, saying “we’ll see what happens,” as the U.S. frames the buildup as counternarcotics following a disputed operation that left 11 people dead on a fast boat.
• Caracas expands training under Plan Independencia 200 and warns Guyana and Trinidad and Tobago that any attack launched from their territories would draw a response, as both governments deny invasion plans and back counternarcotics cooperation.