US military assets and personnel have been deployed to the formerly Roosevelt Roads Naval Station in Ceiba, Puerto Rico, over the past week, indicating a significant buildup of operational capabilities. This expansion continues amid heightened maritime tensions in the Southern Caribbean. The buildup includes the deployment of several hundred servicemembers and equipment to the base, which was closed in 2004 but now appears fully operational. This activity follows the arrival of five U.S. F-35B Lightning II fighter jets at Roosevelt Roads Naval Station on September 13th, 2025, establishing it as a staging area. Transport aircraft, including C-5M Super Galaxy and C-17A models, have been observed delivering materiel. In parallel, 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 on 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. Nine fishermen aboard the vessel were detained for eight hours before being released under the escort of the Venezuelan Navy. 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." Venezuelan official Jorge RodrÃguez has faced criticism regarding his lifestyle amid national defense preparations. 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.
