The former Roosevelt Roads base in Puerto Rico has become a military base again: the United States is putting F-35s there against Venezuela

A closed base that lives again

The Roosevelt Roads Air Base in eastern Puerto Rico was closed in 2004 after years of protests by local residents against the American military presence. But twenty years later, she comes alive again. In September 2025, five fifth-generation F—35 fighters arrived here, the most advanced aircraft in the US arsenal. Along with them are helicopters, Osprey transporters and hundreds of military personnel.

This is not a drill. This is a redistribution of forces in a region where tensions are growing every day.

The F-35 arrived — it's not just a patrol

The very fact of the appearance of the F-35 in the Caribbean speaks for itself. These vehicles are designed to suppress air defenses, deep strikes, and high-threat operations. They are not used for routine patrolling. According to Reuters and Newsweek, their deployment is part of Donald Trump's order to send up to 10 such fighters to the region to fight drug cartels, especially the Tren de Aragua group, which the United States considers a "drug terrorist" organization.

The Pentagon officially declares: "There are no changes in strategy." But the deployment of stealth fighters 1,500 km off the coast of Venezuela is in itself a powerful signal.

The fight against drugs or pressure on Maduro?

The US administration insists that the operations are aimed only at drug trafficking. Recently, a missile strike destroyed a ship that was allegedly transporting drugs from Venezuela. Washington said it had eliminated 11 members of the Tren de Aragua. Caracas denies: "There were fishermen on board, not drug lords."

Meanwhile, Secretary of State Marco Rubio calls Maduro a "drug dictator," and Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth personally inspected the base in Puerto Rico. All this adds up to a picture of not just an anti-drug campaign, but political pressure.

What Venezuela is doing in response

In Caracas, the US actions are called a provocation. Foreign Minister Ivan Gil accused the Americans that the military from the destroyer USS Jason Dunham (DDG-109) illegally detained tuna fishers in the economic zone of Venezuela. The nine-person crew was on board for eight hours. "This is a direct invasion," Hill said. "The United States is looking for an excuse to escalate."

Recently, Maduro announced the mobilization of the entire army and militia along 284 "lines of defense" as part of the "Independence 200 Plan." All this is a response to what Venezuela perceives as preparations for intervention.

Sources

1. Firstpost / Reuters — F-35 arrival at Roosevelt Roads & Caribbean build-up
2. Newsweek — F-35 group modernised for anti-cartel mission vs Venezuela
3. Euronews — US-Venezuela tension context & military op details
4. The War Zone — Video & details of F-35B arrival in Puerto Rico
5. The Militant — Base history: closed 2004, now repurposed as Caribbean military hub
6. NY Post — 10 fighter jets deploying to Puerto Rico for counter-drug ops