In the Caribbean Sea, the United States is engaged in a battle against narcoterrorism, with the Cartel of the Suns being a notable expression of this issue. Within this context, an incident occurred where two Venezuelan F-16 jets flew over the U.S. ship USS Jason Dunham. The motive behind this act? Pure provocation from Nicolás Maduro’s regime, it seems.
However, the U.S. did not take the bait and avoided armed confrontation, as the aircraft did not pose a direct threat, and U.S. military forces perceived no hostile intent or imminent danger of an attack, thus lethal action was unnecessary. For the Department of Defense, these acts are merely interferences that don’t warrant a direct response.
U.S. Keeps Its Cool
Succumbing to the temptation of shooting down the Venezuelan F-16s would have led to a political uproar, potentially accusing the U.S. government of an act of aggression in violation of international laws regarding such matters.
On the contrary, the U.S. response is strategic, not limited to military action, but clearly demonstrates a long-term strategy against transnational criminal organizations that threaten its national security. At the center of this chessboard is Nicolás Maduro and the Cartel of the Suns, a web of military personnel, politicians, and economic operators that has become one of the leading platforms for narcoterrorism in the hemisphere.
The U.S. chose to keep its focus on its objective of combatting narcoterrorism—not engaging in warfare but in an antinarcotics mission—and simply took note of the situation, which will likely serve in creating future files to be used in either legal or diplomatic situations.
Cartel of the Suns as a Transnational Threat
The U.S. response fits into a broader strategy against the Cartel of the Suns
The U.S. Department of Justice has formally accused Maduro and his close associates of leading the Cartel of the Suns, exploiting the Venezuelan military structure to ensure the transport of tons of cocaine to North America and Europe.
Unlike a traditional cartel, this network led by Maduro operates under the cover of a state: it employs the Bolivarian National Armed Forces, its airports, ports, and intelligence resources to protect illicit shipments, amplifying its operational capacity and danger. Thus, it is not just about combatting an ordinary drug trafficking group, but rather an organization that uses the Venezuelan state as a façade.
Such circumstances render Venezuela under Maduro’s rule, in the eyes of the U.S. government, a state sponsor of narcoterrorism. This means an actor that not only threatens its own population but also exports instability and violence regionally. Forthe U.S., Maduro’s regime, alongside the Cartel of the Suns, is simply a threat to its national security and that of the region.
The Logic Behind Not Shooting Down
By refraining from shooting down the Venezuelan F-16s, the U.S. opted not to provide Maduro with ammunition for a propaganda explosion for his regime. The Trump administration avoided the trap that would have given the Venezuelan dictator elements to shift the narrative, changing his image from narcoterrorist to leader of a “nation attacked” by “imperialism,” which would be seen as a vile attack on Venezuelan sovereignty.
The U.S. did not provide grounds that could even place the Venezuelan democratic opposition in a dilemma, where they would have to condemn an attack and risk being viewed as agents of U.S. imperialism.
Through this approach, the U.S. government denied Maduro the chance to present himself at the UN and other international forums as a victim, which would consequently lead to statements calling for a withdrawal from the Caribbean and an end to the fight against narcoterrorism.
Maduro aimed to claim the narrative of victimhood, but the U.S. did not play along, instead viewing the overflight as an event that posed no direct threat but rather an attempt at distraction. By responding only with radio warnings and diplomatic protests, Washington made it clear that it would not allow Nicolás Maduro to manipulate the situation to conceal his status as an accused individual of international crimes.
Washington’s Integrated Strategy
The U.S. response aligns with a broader strategy against the Cartel of the Suns and other transnational terrorist organizations where antinarcotics operations take place. The U.S. maintains its focus, with ships deployed in the Caribbean fulfilling the mission of intercepting cocaine shipments. Each ton seized is a direct blow to the cartel’s finances.
Moreover, there are judicial actions evidenced by arrest warrants and multimillion-dollar rewards from the Department of Justice and the DEA against Maduro, Diosdado Cabello, and other high-ranking officials of the regime. It is not merely about political opponents or ideological adversaries, but about capturing and prosecuting international criminals.
Additionally, the U.S. exerts diplomatic pressure, establishing a network of sanctions and regional alliances to financially isolate the regime and reduce its maneuverability. The narrative is no longer ideological but criminal: Maduro as a drug trafficker, not a legitimate leader.
And while the U.S. military capability is overwhelmingly superior, the Trump administration chooses limited military deterrence. It does not respond with fire to provocations that do not constitute a real threat. Its goal is not to engage in war with Venezuela but to remain focused on the fight against narcoterrorism and capture the individuals responsible for the narcoterrorism who use drugs as ammunition in an endless war they seek to maintain.
By not ceding to provocations, the U.S. preserves the legality of its operations in international waters, presenting itself as a rational actor against a regime that operates with a criminal cartel mentality.
Internally, Donald Trump also shields himself from accusations of recklessness and overreach that would come from the liberal press and digital armies; he avoids dividing U.S. public opinion and does not give the Democratic Party grounds to attack him—甚至在国会—thus evading the scrutiny that threatens its leadership with exposure before the American people for their actions.
Maduro’s Calculated Risk
On his part, Nicolás Maduro, advised by Havana, sought to use the incident to force the U.S. into making a strategic mistake: shooting down a plane that would allow him to play the victim and divert attention from his arrest warrant. However, the calculation backfired. Washington did not take the bait.
Instead, the White House and Pentagon maintain pressure on the ground that truly matters: capturing Maduro and dismantling the Cartel of the Suns. Even as the regime attempts to use its pilots as cannon fodder in risky maneuvers, U.S. judicial power and security agencies continue to tighten the noose politically, financially, and criminally on the head of this criminal organization, Nicolás Maduro.
An Ongoing War Against Narcoterrorism
Thus, the U.S. strategy against Maduro does not aim for aerial or naval battles but rather engages in a sustained war against narcoterrorism.
Just as in the past the U.S. pursued terrorist organizations like the FARC in Colombia or Mexican cartels, today’s target is a more complex actor: a cartel with state control—the Cartel of the Suns.
Through these actions, Donald Trump is making it clear to the world—and particularly to the regime entrenched in Miraflores—that his goal is not an unnecessary military conflict in the Caribbean, but to bring Nicolás Maduro to justice and dismantle a criminal network that threatens the safety of millions. Sanctions, rewards, trials, and antinarcotics operations are the true weapons in this silent yet relentless war.
The overflight of Venezuelan F-16s over the U.S. vessel was merely a distraction. The real battle is against the Cartel of the Suns, and the United States has firmly established that it will not rest until it neutralizes it. Maduro’s attempts to portray himself as a victim will simply be ignored, and he will have to continue facing the reality that, internationally, he is no longer seen as a head of state, but as the leader of a transnational narcoterrorist cartel.
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