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The United States has moved special operations aircraft, troops and equipment to the Caribbean this week, giving Washington additional military options as U.S. President Donald Trump escalates pressure on Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro, according to U.S. officials and flight-tracking data.
At least 10 CV-22 Osprey tilt-rotor aircraft used by special operations forces flew to the region Monday night from Cannon Air Force Base in New Mexico, The Wall Street Journal (WSJ) reported, citing a U.S. official.
C-17 heavy-lift cargo planes conducted at least 16 flights to Puerto Rico from U.S. military bases over the past week, according to flight-tracking data reviewed by The New York Times (NYT).
The actual number may be higher, as some military flights do not appear on public tracking websites.
The C-17s flew from bases in New Mexico, Illinois, Vermont, Florida, Arizona, Utah, Washington State and Japan. It remains unclear how many troops or what equipment were transported.
The aircraft movements involve some of the U.S. military's most elite units.
Cannon Air Force Base is home to the 27th Special Operations Wing. Fort Campbell hosts both the 160th Special Operations Aviation Regiment, an elite unit specializing in high-risk missions, and the 101st Airborne Division.
The first battalion of the 75th Ranger Regiment is based at Hunter Army Airfield at Fort Stewart.
The 27th Special Operations Wing and 160th Regiment are trained to support high-risk infiltration and extraction missions and provide close air and combat support. Army Rangers are trained to seize airfields and provide security for specialized forces such as SEAL Team Six or Delta Force during kill or capture missions.
"They are prepositioning forces to take action," said David Deptula, a retired Air Force lieutenant general and dean of the Mitchell Institute for Aerospace Studies who spoke to WSJ.
"The movement of such assets indicates that the administration already has decided on a course of action. The question that remains is to accomplish what?," he added.
U.S. Central Command (CENTCOM) has said approximately 15,000 troops are already deployed in the Caribbean, one of the country's largest naval deployments in recent years.
The buildup includes a squadron of F-35A jet fighters, EA-18G Growler electronic warfare planes, HH-60W rescue helicopters, five destroyers, an aircraft carrier strike group, and a Marine amphibious ready group.
A U.S. Southern Command (SOUTHCOM) spokesperson declined to comment on specific troop movements, saying: "It is standard practice to routinely rotate equipment and personnel to any military installation."
The Trump administration has been attempting to choke off Venezuela's oil revenue. Last week, the Coast Guard began seizing oil tankers near Venezuela.
Trump signed a secret directive in August ordering the Pentagon to use military force against certain Latin American drug cartels designated as terrorist organizations. Since then, more than 100 people have been killed in over two dozen boat strikes.
Legal and military experts have raised questions about the legality of the campaign. Congress has not authorized the strikes nor declared war on Venezuela.
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