Venezuela says it detected 5 US ‘combat planes’ flying 75km from its coast, calls it a ‘provocation’

Defense Minister of Venezuela Vladimir Padrino attends a press conference on September 1, in Caracas, Venezuela. Jesus Vargas/Getty Images/File

Venezuela on Thursday said it had detected five US fighter jets flying near its Caribbean coast. Defense Minister Vladimir Padrino described the incident as a “provocation” by the United States that posed a threat to national security.

“They are combat aircraft. Combat aircraft that US imperialism has dared to approach the Venezuelan coast,” Padrino said in comments broadcast on state TV.

Later on Thursday, the Venezuelan government issued a statement saying the aircraft had been detected 75 kilometers (about 46 miles) from its coastline, miles away from standard territorial waters which are typically 12 nautical miles from the coast.

Padrin