Venezuela launched a three-day military exercise, displaying Russian-made fighter jets targeting the United States amid growing tensions over Washington’s deployment of US warships into the Caribbean.
More than 2,500 soldiers are mobilised on Laochira Island, Caribbean Island, Venezuela, for an exercise called the “Sovereign Caribbean 200.”
Venezuelan Defense Minister Vladimir Padrino said on the state-run Channel VTV, 12 naval vessels, 22 aircraft, and around 20 boats will take part in the event.
His comments came along with a broadcast showing the amphibious ships and troops landing on the beach as land vessels sailed through the island and jets flew through the sea.
Apart from that, Venezuela also presents many Russian-made fighter jets with anti-ship missiles.
Padrino explained about the drill that began on Wednesday. It was described as part of Venezuela’s response to US warship deployments in the region.
Washington claims these ships, including three early bark-class destroyers, the cruiser Lake Erie, the amphibious attack ship USS IWO JIMA, and the nuclear submarine, but Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro claims they insist on abolishing the deployment.
The US has previously accused Maduro of being involved in drug trafficking, and has given him a $50 million bounty on his head.
Caracas also warned last month that Maduro “will not touch the sacred soil of Venezuela,” and claimed that he had deployed millions of militias across the country.
The exercise began the day after US President Donald Trump said the US had hit a total of three boats in the Caribbean, claiming it was transporting drugs from Venezuela.
The US said 11 people were killed when they were attacked by the first boat linked to Venezuelan gang Tren de Aragua on September 2. On Monday, Trump announced his second strike, allegedly “narcotelorists,” and said the administration had killed three people.
Then on Tuesday, Trump told reporters, “We actually knocked out three boats, not two. But you saw two.”
Exercise released images with anti-ship missiles after Venezuela released images of a Russian-made Scoy SU-30 fighter jet on Monday.
The Air Force initially posted a video on Instagram showing the aircraft on the ground. There, missiles hang from their wings and then hang in flight.
At least some of the videos were already shared on social media in 2024, CNN confirmed. It is not clear when the remaining footage was filmed. CNN contacted Venezuela’s Ministry of Defense for more information.
According to the post, the Jets are Russian Skoy SU-30 MK2 fighter of the Russian “Lion” fighter aircraft group, armed with Russian-made KH-31 “Crypton” air-to-face anti-ship missiles.
According to a report from the Strategic Analysis Centre, Venezuela purchased an unknown number of these missiles from Russia, which arrived in the country between 2007 and 2008.
Also, according to a 2024 open source assessment of various military forces by the International Institute for Strategic Studies, Venezuela has both a counter-fleet and anti-lader version of the KH-31 missile. It also operates a total of 21 SU-30MK2 fighter jets, but it is unclear how many people are on duty given the economic issues over the past decade that have affected Venezuela’s arsenal.
A report by Venezuelan NGO Management Ciudadano on military air accidents in Venezuela over the past two decades highlights both the potential “opacity” and the “issues of system obsolescence, maintenance and lack of spare parts” in government reports.
CNN has contacted the US Department of Defense for comment.
On Tuesday, Richard Grenell, the special envoy for Trump’s special mission, said he still believes the US can reach an agreement with Venezuela and avoid war.
