What military force has the US positioned off Venezuela’s coast?

The Caribbean has become a new battlefield as a result of US President Donald Trump’s campaign against “narcoterrorists.”

Since August, Washington has deployed thousands of troops, warships and aircraft across the region, and reopened military bases in Puerto Rico and conducted drills, in what analysts describe as the largest US presence in Latin America in decades.

Six people were killed on board the most recent attack, which the US launched on Venezuelan boats in September, claiming they were attempting to sell drugs to the US. Trump made it known last week that he had authorized covert CIA operations in Venezuela and that he was even considering launching a land attack.

However, on Thursday, Trump denied that all this amounts to a declaration of war on Venezuela.

He said, “Well, I don’t think we’re going to necessarily request a declaration of war.”

“I believe we will simply kill those who enter our country with drugs,” he said. OK? Trump declared, “We’re going to kill them.”

The US has attacked how many Venezuelan boats?

The US military has carried out at least ten deadly strikes on vessels off Venezuela’s coast, and in the Caribbean Sea and the Pacific Ocean since September 2, marking the most intense American military activity in Latin America since the US invasion of Panama in 1989.

At least 43 people have died in the operations, which were carried out by US Southern Command (SOUTHCOM), according to Trump and senior defense officials’ statements.

According to information collected by the Armed Conflict Location and Event Data (ACLED), the map below shows the approximate locations of at least six of these attacks. Most of these attacks occurred close to the Venezuelan coast and in international waters – raising questions about the legality of the US’s use of force, especially when no imminent threat was present.

Describe SOUTHCOM.

One of the 11 unified combatant commands of the US Department of War (renamed US Southern Command (SOUTHCOM) from the Department of Defense, it is headquartered in Doral, Florida. It oversees operations in Central and South America and the Caribbean, including the defence of the Panama Canal.

Other than the other ten commands, North America (NORTHCOM), Europe (EUCOM), Africa (AFRICOM), the Middle East (CENTCOM), the Indo-Pacific (INDOPACOM), and other countries have global responsibilities like nuclear deterrence (STRATCOM), strategic logistics (TRANSCOM), and Special Operations forces worldwide (SOCOM).

SOUTHCOM’s stated goal is to stop drug trafficking into the US, but its growing presence near Venezuela has been viewed as a sign of Trump’s strategic interest in the area.

What military assets have been deployed?

The army’s size is significant, with ready-to-deploy expeditionary forces, US naval and air assets, and special operations units.

Alex Gatopoulos, Al Jazeera’s defense editor, stated: “This is already the biggest acquisition of US military assets in the area in decades.” The present force is oriented for land attack and not for counter-narcotics operations.

Expeditionary forces

The US presence in the Caribbean is anchored in the Iwo Jima Amphibious Ready Group (ARG). This group of Navy ships carrying marines, vehicles and helicopters, named after the famous World War II battle of Iwo Jima, is designed to land on a shore quickly, often in emergencies or combat situations.

4, 500 sailors and marines, including 2, 200 marines who have been trained for amphibious assault and rapid response missions, are housed in the expeditionary force, which includes the USS San Antonio (LPD 17) and the USS Fort Lauderdale (LPD 28).

Additionally, the group conducted live-fire drills on board the Iwo Jima and amphibious landing drills off St. Croix, the largest US Virgin Islands, a significant US forces training base.

Naval assets

Additionally, several naval assets are used to boost the fleet. In a significant increase in its military presence, the US announced late on Friday that it would send an aircraft carrier strike group to Latin America.

A spokesperson for the US military said that Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth ordered the USS Gerald Ford and five destroyers in its accompanying strike group to deploy to the region.

10 major warships and several support vessels, more than the region’s typical assigned number, were present in the SOUTHCOM task force as of September 25. Four combatants on the ground and a submarine equipped with Tomahawk long-range missiles are among them.

The destroyers, USS Jason Dunham (DDG-109), USS Stockdale (DDG-106) and USS Gravely (DDG-107), are multi-role warships armed with Tomahawk land-attack missiles as well as advanced anti-air and anti-submarine systems. In order to halt Houthi attacks in the area, all three were reportedly deployed to the Red Sea in 2024.

The US Navy warship USS Sampson (DDG 102) docks at the Amador International Cruise Terminal in Panama City on September 02, 2025. [Martin Bernetti/AFP] — On September 2, 2025, the US Navy’s USS Sampson (DDG 102) makes its way to Panama City’s Amador International Cruise Terminal. ]Martin Bernetti/AFP]

A nuclear-powered fast attack submarine, the USS Newport News (SSN-750) complements them with capabilities for strikes, antiship and antisubmarine operations, intelligence, reconnaissance, and special operations.

Additionally, the US Coast Guard and a number of non-combatant support ships are present.

Air assets

Some of the most cutting-edge aircraft in the US Navy, Marine Corps, and Air Force are deployed under SOUTHCOM.

According to Gatopoulos, “added to the various deployments” have been the intimidation strategies of flying strategic bombers close to Venezuelan airspace. “The B-52 is designed to destroy land-based targets, from a distance, usually using long-range cruise missiles.

These heavy bombers can fly at altitudes of up to 50, 000 feet (15, 000 metres) and carry cruise missiles or nuclear-capable weapons. They also monitor ocean waves, target ships, and lay mines in support of naval operations.

The B-1 strategic bomber’s goal is to launch 37 tons of weapons into its target’s airspace. Neither jet is in any way useful for stopping drug-smuggling. According to Gatopoulos, President Trump’s public announcement to the CIA to launch operations in Venezuela and this indicate that they have a very different goal in mind, which is to destabilize the Maduro government.

The most recent development, Gerald Ford Carrier Strike Group’s Caribbean order, further strengthens this theory. The Carrier group is immensely powerful, bringing with it 75+ fighter jets, helicopters and early warning aircraft. Three missile destroyers, each with a lot of firepower, will accompany the USS Ford as they attempt to attack targets deep inside Venezuela.

UNDISCLOSED LOCATION, SOUTH KOREA - APRIL 14: In this handout image released by the South Korean Defense Ministry, two U.S. Air Force B-52H strategic bombers (C) flying with South Korean Air Force F-35A (L) and U.S. Air Force F-16 (R) fighter jets during a joint air drill on April 14, 2023 at an undisclosed location in South Korea. South Korea and the United States held joint air drills, involving at least one B-52H strategic bomber, a day after North Korea test-fired a new intercontinental ballistic missile (ICBM). (Photo by South Korean Defense Ministry via Getty Images) — A joint air drill with the South Korean Defense Ministry via Getty Images on April 14, 2023 saw the flight of two US Air Force B-52H strategic bombers flying with the South Korean Air Force F-35A (L) and US Air Force F-16 fighter jets.

There are also at least 10 F-35 stealth fighters – highly versatile jets which can strike, fight and gather intelligence while remaining hard to detect by radar.

In this image provided by the U.S. Air Force, a Air Force B-52H Stratofortress bomber flies with Marine Corps F-35B Lightning II aircraft in the U.S. Southern Command area of responsibility, Oct. 15, 2025. (U.S. Air Force via AP) — On October 15, 2025, an Air Force B-52H Stratofortress bomber and a Marine Corps F-35B Lightning II aircraft fly over the US Southern Command’s area of responsibility.

With a range of 1, 851 kilometers (1, 150 miles), and speeds up to 370 km/h (230 mph), MQ-9 Reaper drones are remotely piloted for precision strikes and surveillance. They can carry up to 16 Hellfire missiles, allowing them to strike multiple targets in a single mission.

The heavy-lift helicopter CH-53E Super Stallions move troops and other supplies from ship to shore. Before returning to the base, they can carry a cargo of 16 tons 80 kilometers (50 miles).

OCEANSIDE, CALIFORNIA - OCTOBER 18: Navy Landing Craft Air Cushion's (LCAC) unload equipment onto the beach as U.S. Marine Corps V-22 Ospreys and CH-53 Super Stallions fly overhead during the America's Marines 250 event at Camp Pendleton's Red Beach on October 18, 2025 in Oceanside, California. The U.S. Marines are marking their 250th anniversary with a live amphibious assault demonstration entitled — Navy Landing Craft Air Cushion’s (LCAC) unload equipment onto the beach as US Marine Corps V-22 Ospreys and CH-53 Super Stallions fly overhead during the America’s Marines 250 event at Camp Pendleton’s Red Beach on October 18, 2025, in Oceanside, California]Mario Tama/Getty Images via AFP]

P-8 Poseidon patrol and reconnaissance aircraft, MH-60 Seahawk helicopters, AC-130J gunships, and other types of air defense and support.

troops and special forces

SOUTHCOM’s special operations component consists of MH-60 Black Hawks and AH-MH-6 Little Bird helicopters for troop insertion and reconnaissance. The deployment’s MC Ocean Trader serves as these units’ mobile forward base.

APARRI, PHILIPPINES - MAY 03: Black Hawk helicopters fly in formation during a counter landing live fire exercise at a beach as part of U.S.-Philippines joint military exercises on May 03, 2025 in Aparri, Cagayan province, Philippines. More than 14,000 Filipino and U.S. troops are taking part in this year's Balikatan, or — As part of US-Philippines joint military exercises on May 3, 2025 in Aparri, Cagayan province, the Philippines [Ezra Acayan/Getty Images]

About 10, 000 troops have also been sent to the US territory of Puerto Rico, while the White House has authorised the CIA to carry out covert operations inside Venezuela.

Venezuela’s response: how?

In what Washington perceived as a highly provocative act, two Venezuelan F-16 fighter jets flew over the USS Jason Dunham on September 4. In response, the US deployed 10 F-35B fighters and two MQ-9 Reapers to Puerto Rico.

Venezuela held extensive naval and air exercises on September 17 while President Nicolas Maduro mandated the mobilization of the Bolivarian militia, a reserve force that makes up Venezuela’s armed forces, and demanded the donations of millions of volunteers to defend the nation’s sovereignty.