The US has reopened a Puerto Rico naval base as the Caribbean military build-up continues

Near ceiba, Puerto Rico – The US Naval base in Puerto Rico that was closed more than 20 years ago now serves as the United States military base in the Caribbean possible military front against Venezuela.

Naval Station Roosevelt Roads closed in 2004 after being in operation since 1943. But the Roosevelt Roads base has been reopened and now five armies are operating in northern Venezuela.

In early September, A source confirmed to CBS News That the US sent 10 F-35 fighter jets to Puerto Rico to target drug cartels.

Samuel Rivera Baez, the mayor of CEBA, a town near the base, told CBS News that the F-35s woke him up in the morning.

“Right now, the United States is the most powerful country in the world,” Baezi said. “Having them here to take care of themselves, we feel safe.”

The presence of the military drags down the Puerto Rican area like Damien Leon.

“I feel tense, kind of worried about not knowing what’s going to happen, maybe an attack on someone close,” Leon told CBS News.

This comes as new Pentagon photos show a B-52 bomber flying above an aircraft carrier USS Gerald R. Ford As it heads toward the Caribbean in a provocative display of U.S. military power, Venezuela has defended itself.

According to a navy official, as of Friday morning, the US had four warships in the Western Ocean, including the USS Gerald R. Ford and three guided destroyers. It had seven other warships in the Caribbean, the official said, which included guided-missile destroyers, two guided-missile cruisers, an amphibious assault ship and two transport ships.

As the US conducts live fire exercises in the region, Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro, Who wants to remove it From the strength of his accusations of drug cartels, he spoke against what he called threats of attacks.

“Raise your hand if you want Venezuela to become a Yankee Colony,” Maduro told the crowd on Thursday.

Going back to early September, the US done again At least 20 strikes in the region of what the White House has ordered are suspected of drug-trafficking boats, killing at least 80 people.

On Wednesday, senior military officials briefed President Trump on updated options for possible action in Venezuela, according to multiple sources familiar with the meetings at the White House.

On Friday, Mr Trump held additional talks at the White House on the situation with Venezuela, three sources told CBS News. Among those in the room for those talks were President JD Vence, Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth, Secretary of State Marco Rubio and Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff Dan Cane.

It marked at least the third day in a row that senior White House officials held talks with Mr. Trump in Venezuela, sources said.

Eleanor Watson and Jennifer Jacobs contributed to this report.