Key Takeaways
- Two US F/A-18 Super Hornets were tracked circling the Gulf of Venezuela, amid escalating tensions between the US and Venezuela.
- The incident comes after a wave of US strikes against boats in the Caribbean Sea, which the White House claims were trafficking drugs to the US from Venezuela.
- Experts have raised questions over the legality of the strikes, which have killed over 80 people.
- Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro has accused the US of using the strikes to destabilize the country and oust him from power.
- The US has deployed troops, ships, and jets to the Caribbean in recent months, which officials claim is to combat drug trafficking in the area.
Introduction to the Incident
Two US fighter jets, identified as F/A-18 Super Hornets, were tracked circling the Gulf of Venezuela on Tuesday, as tensions continue to escalate between the two countries. The jets appeared on flight tracking sites near Maracaibo, Venezuela’s second-largest city, at around 13:00 (17:00 GMT), before circling the gulf for about 40 minutes. A US defense official told the Associated Press that the F/A-18 jets had conducted a "routine training flight" in the area. However, the incident has raised concerns and sparked speculation about the intentions behind the flight.
Escalating Tensions
The incident comes amid a wave of US strikes against boats in the Caribbean Sea, which the White House claims were trafficking drugs to the US from Venezuela. Experts have raised questions over the legality of the strikes, which have killed more than 80 people. Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro has accused the US of using the strikes to destabilize the country and oust him from power. In an interview with Politico, President Trump declared that Maduro’s days in power were "numbered" and declined to comment on whether US troops could be deployed to the country. The escalating tensions between the two countries have led to a significant increase in US military presence in the region.
US Military Presence in the Region
The US has deployed troops, ships, and jets to the Caribbean in recent months, which officials claim is to combat drug trafficking in the area. An analysis of satellite images and ship tracking websites by BBC Verify has made it possible to identify at least nine military vessels that have been deployed to the region over recent weeks. Satellite images also show that an airbase in Puerto Rico, which was closed in 2004 by the Pentagon, has been re-activated. Repairs have been carried out to the runway at Roosevelt Roads base, and F-35s – America’s most advanced fighter – have been sent to the base. The increased military presence in the region has raised concerns about the potential for further escalation.
Flight Details and Analysis
The F/A-18s, which are capable of engaging targets both on the ground and in the air, appear to be the first to approach the Venezuelan coastline so publicly in recent months. The F/A-18s came within 20 nautical miles of the coastline, flight tracking data showed, but the US official said the jets remained in international airspace. Neither the F/A-18s nor the Growler showed a point of origin or a destination on FlightRadar24, and all three aircraft only turned on their transponders when they arrived near the Venezuelan coastline. Justin Crump, head of the risk consultancy Sibylline, suggested that the move was intended to "support the administration’s signalling and put pressure on the [Venezuelan] leadership".
Expert Analysis
Greg Bagwell, a former RAF air marshal and president of the Air and Space Power Association, told BBC Verify that the flights appeared to be "probing" Venezuelan defense and trying to check for responses such as radio traffic and encrypted signals related to defense systems. "The Growlers would have been listening for [signals intelligence], whilst the Super Hornets would have been providing air defense cover for the Growlers," Bagwell said. He said the Growlers would also detect "active missile sites". Crump said the jets also had the capacity to test out "jamming capabilities", adding: "This also helps send a message, when successful, potentially indicating to Venezuela’s leadership that these systems cannot or should not be relied upon."
Conclusion
The incident involving the two US F/A-18 Super Hornets circling the Gulf of Venezuela has added to the escalating tensions between the US and Venezuela. The US has deployed troops, ships, and jets to the Caribbean in recent months, which officials claim is to combat drug trafficking in the area. However, experts have raised questions about the legality of the US strikes against boats in the Caribbean Sea and the potential for further escalation. The flight details and analysis suggest that the US is probing Venezuelan defense and testing its capabilities, which could be a sign of things to come. As the situation continues to unfold, it is essential to monitor the developments and understand the implications of the US military presence in the region.
