The Defense Department on Monday deployed aircraft designed to transport special-operations forces, troops and equipment as part of an ongoing military buildup in the Caribbean that could signal imminent strikes against the regime of Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro.
The White House and Pentagon isn’t commenting on the developments, but President Trump on Monday touted “a massive armada formed” in the Caribbean and suggested the United States would begin to deploy land forces to the region as well, declaring “soon we will be starting the same program on land.”
The Wall Street Journal reported on Tuesday that at least 10 CV-22 Osprey tilt-rotor aircraft, which are used to transport special forces, arrived in the Caribbean theater from Cannon Air Force Base in New Mexico.
The Journal also reported that C-17 cargo planes from Fort Stewart and Fort Campbell Army bases arrived in Puerto Rico on Monday.
The deployment of the aircraft signals that elite U.S. units will be participating in the buildup of forces against Maduro.
Cannon Air Force base is home to the 27th Special Operations Wing and the Special Operations Aviation Regiment, which have the expertise to conduct deep infiltration missions while the 75th Ranger Regiment, which is based in Fort Stewart, Ga., is capable of seizing airfields to establish a base of operations for a broader deployment of troops.
Fort Campbell, which straddles Kentucky and Tennessee, is home to the 101st Airborne Division, which also has quick-strike capability.
A Pentagon spokesperson declined to comment on the matter.
A spokesperson for the U.S. Southern Command declined to comment “due to operational security concerns.”
“Due to operational security concerns, we do not disclose details on the movement of defense personnel and assets,” said Steven McLoud, a media relations officer for the U.S. Southern Command.
Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth and Secretary of State Marco Rubio briefed senators last week on military actions off the coast of Venezuela and repeatedly assured lawmakers that the Trump administration is not seeking regime change through military action.
But Trump on Monday declined to say what his endgame is in the region, only warning that Maduro would face severe consequences if he “plays tough.”
“If he wants to do something, if he plays tough, it’ll be the last time he’ll ever be able to play tough,” Trump told reporters.
White House chief of staff Susie Wiles indicated in an interview with journalist Chris Whipple that the president wants to force Maduro from power.
“He wants to keep on blowing boats up until Maduro cries uncle,” she said. “And people way smarter than me on that say that he will.”
