Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro has ordered the activation of defensive units and placed regional forces on high alert to counter a U.S. force of 16,000 troops currently deployed in the Caribbean. The mobilization follows a tense incident on December 9–10, where two U.S. Navy F/A-18 Super Hornets reportedly breached Venezuelan airspace over the $150 billion oil-rich Lake Maracaibo basin.
Activation Against a 16,000-Strong U.S. Force
The activation comes as a direct response to what Caracas describes as an “encirclement” by U.S. military assets. Under the banner of “Operation Southern Spear,” the United States has amassed a significant strike force in the region, including the USS Gerald R. Ford carrier strike group, eight warships, a nuclear submarine, and approximately 16,000 troops.
In response to this buildup and the recent airspace violation, President Maduro ordered the “immediate activation” of air defense systems and raised the readiness level of the National Bolivarian Armed Forces (FANB) in the Western Defense Region. This follows the swearing-in of 5,600 new soldiers just days prior, who have now been integrated into the active defense plans against the U.S. force.
F-18s Breach Strategic Airspace
The mobilization was triggered after two U.S. Navy F/A-18 Super Hornets were tracked flying deep into the Gulf of Venezuela. According to flight data and Venezuelan officials, the jets entered sovereign airspace and circled for approximately 40 minutes over the northern tip of Lake Maracaibo.
The aircraft, identified by call signs “RHINO11” and “RHINO12,” operated at 25,000 feet between the states of Zulia and Falcón—a critical corridor for the nation’s energy infrastructure. Venezuelan authorities condemned the maneuver as a “defiant flyover” designed to test the response times of their Russian-made air defense batteries.
Target: The $150 Billion Oil Heartland
The breach occurred directly over Venezuela’s economic heartland. The Lake Maracaibo basin is the cradle of the country’s petroleum industry, holding proven reserves estimated at 150 billion barrels of crude oil. Even at conservative valuations, the strategic assets and reserves in this specific region far exceed $150 billion, making it a “crown jewel” of national sovereignty.
Analysts note that the flight path was likely calculated to probe defenses protecting these high-value energy assets. With the region already under strain from sanctions, the presence of U.S. fighters over key refineries and oil fields was interpreted by Caracas as a direct threat to the nation’s primary source of revenue.
Escalating Tensions
While the Pentagon has officially characterized its Caribbean presence as a counter-narcotics mission, the scale of the deployment—the largest in decades—has led to accusations of a prelude to regime change. With 16,000 U.S. personnel now operating off the coast and fighter jets probing the perimeter, the risk of miscalculation remains at an all-time high.
Sources:
The Soufan Center, Nov. 14, 2025 : “Operation Southern Spear: US Targets Venezuelan Narco-Terrorism” (The Soufan Center)
Aerospace Global News, Dec. 2025 : “F-18 Flyover Triggers S-300 Response in Venezuela” (Aerospace Global News)
DefenseScoop, Nov. 14, 2025 : “Hegseth Announces Southern Spear Against Cartels” (DefenseScoop)
CiberCuba, Dec. 14, 2025 : “US Patrols Halt Venezuelan Tankers in Caribbean” (CiberCuba)
Navy.mil, 2025 : “USS Gerald R. Ford Deploys for Caribbean Operations” (U.S. Navy)
KATV, Dec. 2025 : “Gas Prices Rise Amid Venezuelan Tensions” (KATV News)
CSIS, Nov. 14, 2025 : “Implications of US Pressure on Venezuela” (Center for Strategic and International Studies)
Turkiye Today, Dec. 2025 : “Caribbean Trade Disrupted by US-Venezuela Standoff” (Turkiye Today)