Venezuela has officially accused US forces of activating fighter jets about 75km from the country's Caribbean coast, flying at an altitude of about 10,700m, at speeds of about 740 km/h.
According to Defense Minister Vladimir Padrino, the air defense system in Maiquetia region - an area bordering the capital Caracas - has recorded "flights with technical characteristics" of US fighter jets. He described the incident as a province and threatened to iting up national activists if there were more dangerous approaches.
Mr. Padrino stressed that the aircraft could be an F-35 - a modern US stealth fighter - and accused this of being a sign that the US is increasing military pressure on Venezuela. The Caracas government said it has never seen such a large-scale deployment of fighter jets before near national waters.
In his statement, Mr. Padrino asked the parties to carefully study the real intentions of the US aircraft and warned: If attacked, we will retaliate strongly. He also affirmed that an international airline had informed the Maiquetia air traffic control station about "strange aircraft" appearing near Venezuelan airspace.
The US has not yet made an official comment on these allegations. The US has previously deployed naval forces and patrol aircraft to strengthen drug enforcement in the Caribbean - a campaign that Venezuela has repeatedly viewed as a sovereign influence under the name of anti-smuggling.
The incident comes amid tense relations between the US and Venezuela over confrontations over drug policy, economic sanctions and allegations of involvement in criminal organizations.
Venezuela has declared a state of emergency to expand national control when facing external threats, allowing the government to intervene in strategic infrastructure and control the border more closely. In this context, the discovery of US fighter jets near airspace is considered by Caracas to be a new escalation step.
Observers say that if the US does not deni or explain the incident, it will become a key point in diplomatic tensions between the two countries. Venezuela could use the incident as an opportunity to call for international support and as an excuse to strengthen domestic security.
