in the midst of threats against Venezuela; The American base in Puerto Rico was activated after 20 years

According to RCO News Agency, the “Roosevelt Roads Naval Station” was closed in 2004 after being in operation since 1943, but this base has now reopened and is one of five places where US forces operate in Puerto Rico, a US territory strategically located in the north of Venezuela.

In early September, a source confirmed to CBS News that the United States had sent 10 F-35 fighter jets to Puerto Rico for what it said was an operation against drug cartels.

Samuel Rivera Baez, the mayor of Ciba, a city located right next to the base, told CBS News that the F-35s wake him up in the morning.

Meanwhile, the US military presence has caught the attention of local Puerto Ricans, such as Damien Leon.

“I feel tense and kind of nervous,” Leon told CBS News. “I don’t know what’s going to happen, maybe there’s an attack from someone nearby.”

According to CBS News, new images from the Pentagon also show a B-52 long-range bomber flying over the aircraft carrier USS Gerald R. Ford is flying to the Caribbean, a provocative display of US military might against Venezuela.

Also, as of Friday morning, the United States had four warships in the western Atlantic, including the aircraft carrier Gerald R. Ford and three guided missile destroyers. The official said there were seven other warships in the Caribbean, including two guided-missile destroyers, two guided-missile cruisers, an amphibious assault ship and two amphibious transport dock ships.

As the United States conducts military exercises in the region, Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro, whom Washington wants to oust over alleged ties to drug cartels, told a crowd of people in his country over what he called threats of invasion: “Raise your hand if you want Venezuela to become a Yankee colony.”

The United States has carried out at least 20 airstrikes in the region since early September against what the White House says are drug-trafficking boats, killing at least 80 people.

Senior military officials on Wednesday briefed President Donald Trump on updated options for potential operations in Venezuela, including ground strikes, according to multiple sources with knowledge of the White House meetings.

In addition, three sources told CBS News that on Friday, Trump held more talks at the White House on the situation in Venezuela. Among those who were present in the room of these talks, we can mention the Vice President JD Vance, the Secretary of War Pete Hegst, the Secretary of State Marco Rubio and the Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, Dan Kaine.

The sources noted that this is at least the third day in a row that senior White House officials have discussed Venezuela with President Trump.

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