US B-52 Bombers Fly Near Venezuela Amid Drug War, Tensions Rise

Two US B-52 bombers flew close to the Venezuelan coast over the Caribbean Sea on Thursday, marking another display of military strength as Washington intensifies its campaign against alleged drug trafficking operations in the region.

According to flight tracking data from Flightradar24, the bombers flew parallel to Venezuela’s northern coast, circled northeast of Caracas, and then returned northward over the sea. This marks at least the fourth time US military aircraft have flown near Venezuela since mid-October — with previous incidents involving both B-52 and B-1B bombers.

The latest flight comes amid growing concern in Caracas that the United States’ military buildup in the Caribbean could signal deeper political intentions. Washington has maintained that its actions are aimed solely at disrupting international drug trafficking routes, but Venezuelan officials have accused the US of using anti-drug operations as a pretext for regime change.

In recent weeks, the US has deployed significant naval and air power across the region. The USS Gerald R. Ford aircraft carrier strike group has been sent to Latin America, along with F-35 stealth fighters stationed in Puerto Rico and six Navy ships currently operating in the Caribbean Sea.

Since early September, US forces have carried out at least 17 strikes on vessels accused of smuggling drugs — 16 boats and one semi-submersible — killing an estimated 67 people, according to official figures. However, Washington has yet to provide concrete evidence proving these vessels were engaged in narcotics trafficking or posed any immediate threat.

The continued presence of heavy US military assets near Venezuelan waters has significantly heightened geopolitical tensions. President Nicolás Maduro’s administration has accused the US of orchestrating efforts to destabilize his government, while Washington insists its focus remains on “counter-narcotics operations.”

With each new flight and strike, the standoff between Washington and Caracas deepens — and the skies above the Caribbean have become the latest flashpoint in a growing regional power struggle.