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Pentagon sets its sights on Puerto Rico in combatting cartels

2 1
09.09.2025
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Pentagon sets its sights on Puerto Rico in combatting cartels

Top Pentagon officials made a surprise trip to Puerto Rico on Monday amid the Trump administration’s push to counter drug cartels in Latin America and the Caribbean Sea.

© Associated Press

Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth and Joint Chiefs of Staff Chair Gen. Dan Caine visited the island territory in a trip announced by Puerto Rico Gov. Jenniffer González-Colón (R) in a social media post.

The visit comes after President Trump last week claimed a military strike on a boat in the Caribbean killed 11 drug smugglers. Trump has asserted the vessel was carrying narcotics from Venezuela and headed to the United States. Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro has denied these accusations.

The U.S. also in recent weeks has moved forces and lethal assets into the Caribbean, including at least eight warships, an attack submarine, and more than 4,000 sailors and Marines. In addition, 10 F-35s were sent to the island late last week and are reportedly meant to conduct operations against designated narco-terrorist organizations.

The Pentagon did not announce Hegseth and Caine’s trip in advance and did not respond to a request for comment from The Hill.

Reuters first reported that the Pentagon is considering plans to use Puerto Rico in its operations against cartels in the region, including possibly conducting military flights out of the U.S. territory.

In her post to the social platform X, González-Colón hinted at the plans by thanking Trump “for recognizing the strategic value Puerto Rico has to the national security of the United States and the fight against drug cartels in our hemisphere, perpetuated by narco-dictator Nicolas Maduro.”

Tensions between the U.S. and Venezuela continue to........

© The Hill