Marines with Lima Company, 3rd Battalion Landing Team 36, part of the 22nd Marine Expeditionary Unit Special Operations Command, conducted a live-fire deck shoot aboard the USS San Antonio (LPD 17) on September 15, 2025, while underway in the Caribbean Sea. The exercises, documented by Sgt. Nathan Mitchell, were shared by the official USMC Twitter account and retweeted by Naval Forces Southern Command, U.S. Southern Command, and the Department of War. These operations occurred as Tropical Wave 98L entered the eastern Caribbean Sea, posing potential flooding risks to the Greater Antilles, including Hispaniola, Cuba, and Puerto Rico. While the system's development into a tropical cyclone remained uncertain due to persistent westerly wind shear, forecasters noted that even without direct passage, heavy rainfall could spread flooding risks across the region. In parallel, the United States has increased its naval presence near Venezuela with the arrival of the USNS Henry J. Kaiser at Guantanamo Bay, the third fleet oiler deployed to the region. This naval activity follows diplomatic tensions between the U.S. and Colombia, with President Donald Trump accusing Colombian President Gustavo Petro of promoting narco-terrorism. Colombian Interior Minister Armando Benedetti confirmed that a survivor of a recent U.S. strike, reportedly carrying cocaine, will be prosecuted upon repatriation to Colombia. The USNS Henry J. Kaiser departed Norfolk on October 14th and altered course on October 16th, heading southeast. This deployment, alongside two other fleet oilers, suggests a strategic repositioning for naval operations. The USNS Henry J. Kaiser was anticipated to be off the U.S. Virgin Islands within approximately 24 hours as of October 19th. Earlier reports indicated that Hurricane #98L presented two potentially disastrous paths, with a northeastern trajectory identified as a risk for severe flooding in Hispaniola. The meteorological community continued to monitor the storm's development. President Trump had previously asserted on Truth Social that Petro "promotes the appeasement of criminals who have killed thousands of his own citizens" and sends "poison" to the United States, warning that "The world will be watching and so will the US" regarding upcoming Colombian elections.
