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Chairpersons

US Military Operations in Puerto Rico Escalate Tensions Over Drug Cartels and Sovereignty

Strategic Insights

— 2 min read

US Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth and Air Force Gen. Dan Caine arrived in Puerto Rico on Monday to support military operations against drug cartels in the Caribbean. The visit comes as the U.S. prepares to deploy 10 F-35 fighter jets to the island for operations targeting drug cartels. The US military has been training in Puerto Rico for over a week, with hundreds of Marines deployed to the island for a training exercise. Local residents have expressed concerns about the increased military presence, citing memories of the US Navy's use of nearby islands as training ranges in the 1940s.

Key Takeaways:

  • The US military has deployed over 1,000 Marines to Puerto Rico for training exercises, with the majority practicing amphibious maneuvers and flight operations.
  • The US Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth and Air Force Gen. Dan Caine arrived in Puerto Rico on Monday to support military operations against drug cartels in the Caribbean.
  • The US is preparing to deploy 10 F-35 fighter jets to Puerto Rico for operations targeting drug cartels.
  • Local residents have expressed concerns about the increased military presence, citing memories of the US Navy's use of nearby islands as training ranges in the 1940s.
  • Puerto Rico's Gov. Jenniffer González has dismissed concerns, saying that Puerto Rico is playing an important role in Trump's ongoing fight against drug trafficking since it represents a US border in the Caribbean.
  • A group of Marines currently training on the island are not tied to the US maritime force recently deployed to Caribbean waters, according to Siul López, a spokesman for Puerto Rico's National Guard.
  • The training exercise in Puerto Rico was pre-planned and began on August 31, with the National Guard's spokesman unaware of when it will end or how many Marines are involved.

Statistics:

  • Eleven people were killed in the rare US military operation in the Caribbean on September 2, with the president saying the vessel was operated by the Venezuelan gang, Tren de Aragua.
  • The US has deployed hundreds of Marines to Puerto Rico for training exercises.
  • More than 1,000 Marines are estimated to be on the island, according to Puerto Rico's Gov. Jenniffer González.
  • 10 F-35 fighter jets are set to be deployed to Puerto Rico for operations targeting drug cartels.
  • A group of Marines are currently training in southern Puerto Rico, practicing amphibious maneuvers and flight operations.

Sources:

  • Associated Press
  • The Associated Press website
  • US Marine Corps

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