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The Ministry of Defense confirmed Thursday night that two Venezuelan aircraft were flying near a naval ship in international waters. What the department calls a “highly provocative move” event, the Trump administration reinforces its Anti-Narco Terrorism effort.
“Today, two Maduro regime military aircraft flew near a U.S. Navy ship in international waters. This highly provocative move is intended to interfere with our counter Operation Nalco-Serole,” the Defense Department wrote in a statement. Posted to X. “The Venezuelan-run cartels are strongly advised not to take any further efforts to hinder, block or interfere with anti-drug and counter-terrorism operations carried out by the U.S. military.”
Venezuela’s action follows an unprecedented U.S. Marine Corps strike Tuesday in a ship strike on a cartel boat. Trump administration Later it was said that during the strike, 11 members of the infamous Venezuelan gang Tren de Aragua were killed during the strike.
Trump warns Maduro on strike of cartel ship next to Venezuela: “No shelter”
Tensions between Venezuela and the United States continue to escalate. The Pentagon said on September 4 that two Venezuelan aircraft flew over a U.S. Navy ship in international waters. (Alexander Zemlianichenko/Pool via Reuters; Brian Snyder/Reuters)
U.S. efforts to anti-cartels and international gangs were mainly carried out in the form of seizures and arrests before Tuesday’s strike. However, the strike seems to indicate that the Trump administration is turning to a more difficult new approach.
The videotape shows the ship shortly before it was destroyed. (@realdonaldtrump via Truth Social)
On Thursday, during a visit to Ecuador, Secretary of State Marco Rubio announces The two gangs were reclassified as foreign terrorist organizations. Rubio also criticized Venezuelan leaders for participating in the drug dealing. He went on to denounce Nicolás Maduro as a “prosecuted drug trafficker” and a “fugitive of justice in the United States.”
Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro and First Lady Cilia Flores marched during Independence Day celebrations in Caracas on July 5, 2025. (Juan Barreto/AFP via Getty Images)
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“Maduro was indicted by a grand jury in southern New York. This means that the southern New York region provided evidence to the grand jury, which sued him. Then, a year and a half, a year and a half, was not disclosed for a year, which was detailed in Maduro’s lawsuit, especially in Maduro’s lawsuit.” “So first, no doubt, he, Nicolás Maduro, is a drug dealer indicted in the United States, and he is a fugitive for justice in the United States.”
Rubio also appears to show that the United States and its allies are working together for this tougher cartel and international gang organization. He said the “cooperative government” will help the United States identify drug dealers and “blast them if that’s needed”.
Caitlin McFall of Fox News Digital contributed to the report.
