The Pentagon reported that two Venezuelan military aircraft approached a U.S. Navy vessel in international waters on Thursday. This incident was described as a "highly provocative move" by Defense Department officials. The aircraft, identified as armed F-16 fighter jets, flew over the USS Jason Dunham, which is part of a larger U.S. naval presence in the Caribbean aimed at combating drug trafficking.

The Defense Department stated that the maneuver was intended to disrupt U.S. counter-narcotics operations. In a post on the social media platform X, the Pentagon emphasized that the actions of the Venezuelan military were designed to interfere with ongoing efforts to combat narco-terrorism.

This incident follows a recent U.S. military strike ordered by President Donald Trump, which targeted a vessel in the Caribbean believed to be carrying members of the Tren de Aragua gang, a group linked to drug smuggling. The strike resulted in the deaths of 11 individuals, which the Trump administration labeled as "terrorists."

In response to the increased U.S. military presence, Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro declared that his country is at "maximum preparedness" to defend against perceived threats. He criticized the deployment of U.S. naval forces, calling it an "extravagant, unjustifiable, immoral and absolutely criminal and bloody threat."

The Pentagon's statement included a warning to the Venezuelan cartel, advising against any further attempts to obstruct U.S. military operations. The U.S. Navy has recently deployed eight ships to the Caribbean and Pacific regions as part of its anti-drug trafficking mission.