The flight of F/A-18 multi-role fighters over the bay was visible on publicly available flight tracking websites. The machines spent over 30 minutes in the bay, the Associated Press reported.
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Why were US fighters over the Gulf of Venezuela?
How long did the fighters spend over the bay?
Were the fighters armed?
What are the reasons for strengthening US military forces in the region?
American fighters over the Gulf of Venezuela. “Routine Flight”
A US defense official confirmed on condition of anonymity that the pair of fighter jets had conducted a “routine training flight” in the region. He did not reveal whether the planes were armed, but emphasized that they had not left international airspace.
The Gulf of Venezuela lies in the southern part of the Caribbean Sea and extends over 200 km into the Venezuelan coastline. It is surrounded by the Venezuelan states of Zulia and Falcon and the La Guajira department in Colombia, and in the south it connects to Lake Maracaibo through a narrow strait.
The US administration has significantly strengthened the military forces stationed in the Caribbean region in recent months, justified by the fight against drug smuggling. The authorities in Caracas claim that the goal is to remove Nicolas Maduro, who has been in power there since 2013, and take control of the rich oil deposits.
Trump recently said in an interview with Politico that Maduro's days “are numbered,” but did not reveal his goal or strategy for Venezuela. However, he did not rule out the possibility of conducting a land invasion of this country.
