'Will be shot down': Trump threatens Venezuela over jets near US Navy; deploys F-35s to Puerto Rico

US President Donald Trump has warned that Venezuelan military jets will be shot down if they fly over US naval ships and "put us in a dangerous position."

His comments came after US officials said that Venezuelan aircraft flew near a US vessel off South America for the second time in two days, reported BBC.


The incidents followed a US strike on what Trump officials described as a "drug-carrying vessel from Venezuela" operated by a gang, which killed 11 people.

When asked in the Oval Office what would happen if Venezuelan jets approached US ships again, Trump said Venezuela would be in "trouble." Standing beside a general, he told him he could do anything he wanted if the situation escalated.

The US military has increased its presence in the southern Caribbean, deploying additional naval vessels and thousands of marines and sailors. The White House also announced the deployment of 10 F-35 fighter jets to Puerto Rico.

Asked about the military build-up, Trump said, as quoted by BBC, "I think it's just strong. We're strong on drugs. We don't want drugs killing our people."

Maduro rejects US accusations

Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro dismissed the US claims about his country and said disagreements between the two nations did not justify a "military conflict." He added, "Venezuela has always been willing to talk, to engage in dialogue, but we demand respect."

Maduro also accused Washington of seeking "regime change through military threat." Asked about that, Trump said: "We're not talking about that," but pointed to what he called a "very strange election" in Venezuela. Maduro was sworn in for his third term in January after a contested vote.

Since returning to office in January, Trump has intensified his anti-drug-trafficking efforts in Latin America. He said "drugs are pouring" into the US from Venezuela and accused members of the Tren de Aragua gang, designated a terrorist organization in the US, of operating there.

Trump has long been a critic of Maduro. In August, he doubled the reward for information leading to Maduro’s arrest to $50 million, calling him "one of the largest narco-traffickers in the world." During his first term, the US government charged Maduro and other senior officials with narco-terrorism, corruption, and drug trafficking.