U.S. Navy forces, operating from the USS Jason Dunham, boarded and searched a tuna fishing vessel in international waters in the Southern Caribbean Sea earlier today, September 14th, 2025. Venezuela's Foreign Ministry stated the U.S. Navy "illegally and hostilely boarded" the boat, which they claim was authorized to fish within Venezuela's Exclusive Economic Zone. According to Venezuela's Foreign Ministry, nine fishermen aboard the vessel were detained for eight hours before being released under the escort of the Venezuelan Navy. The incident occurred inside international waters. Footage of the boarding by a U.S. Navy Visit, Board, Search, and Seizure (VBSS) Team was released. This event follows the deployment of five U.S. F-35B fighter jets to Roosevelt Roads Naval Station in Ceiba, Puerto Rico, on September 13th, 2025, which has been established as a staging area amid escalating maritime tensions with Venezuela. Reports indicate that multiple F-35 units seen arriving in Puerto Rico may originate from various squadrons, including VMFAT-502 and VMFA-122, though AFP has identified VMFA-225 "Vikings" as being present. Meanwhile, Venezuelan official Jorge RodrÃguez has faced criticism regarding his lifestyle amid national defense preparations, with social media posts questioning public financial contributions. Opposition figure Macario González, former mayor of Barquisimeto, remains reported missing as of September 13th, 2025, following a fire at an establishment in Barquisimeto on the same day. Venezuela has previously announced that 8 million militiamen are preparing to defend the nation, and has accused the U.S. Navy of assaulting its fishing boat "Carmen Rosa" and U.S. Marines from the USS Jason Dunham of assaulting a cartel ship.
