Venezuela Accuses U.S. of Intimidation After F-18 Jets Fly Over Gulf

Caracas — Venezuela’s Defense Minister Vladimir Padrino López accused the United States on Friday of attempting to intimidate the country after two U.S. Navy F-18 fighter jets flew over the Gulf of Venezuela earlier this week, according to aviation tracking data.

Speaking during a ceremony marking the 47th anniversary of Venezuela’s Integrated Aerospace Defense Command, Padrino López said the incident would not weaken the Bolivarian National Armed Forces (FANB) or the Venezuelan people.

“We are prepared to defend this country. Do not underestimate us,” Padrino López said in remarks broadcast on state television Venezolana de Televisión (VTV).

✈️ Details of the Overflight

Flight-tracking platform Flightradar24 showed that two U.S. F-18F Super Hornets, a twin-seat variant, entered airspace above the Gulf of Venezuela on December 12, remaining in the area for approximately 40 minutes.

The aircraft reportedly conducted multiple circular maneuvers roughly 160 kilometers northeast of Maracaibo, Venezuela’s second-largest city, before heading north toward a point about 50 kilometers west of Aruba.

Analysts believe the jets may have originated from the USS Gerald R. Ford, the U.S. Navy’s largest and most advanced aircraft carrier, which is currently operating in the Caribbean.

🛡️ Venezuela Warns of ‘Psychological Operations’

Padrino López framed the flyover as part of what he called psychological operations aimed at pressuring Caracas.

“We have the capacity to react and defend our airspace. These intimidation tactics will not work,” he said.

🌎 Rising Tensions in the Caribbean

The flyover comes amid a major U.S. military buildup in the Caribbean, which Washington says is focused on counter-narcotics operations. Venezuelan officials, however, argue the deployment is designed to threaten the Maduro government and promote political change.

Tensions escalated further a day after the overflight, when U.S. authorities intercepted and seized a tanker near Venezuelan waters. Caracas described the move as “theft,” while U.S. officials said the vessel—identified as the Skipper—had prior links to sanctioned Iranian oil smuggling, despite carrying Venezuelan crude at the time.

🔍 What Comes Next

The incident highlights ongoing friction between Washington and Caracas, particularly as U.S. sanctions and military operations in the region continue to expand. Venezuelan officials insist they remain on high alert and capable of responding to any perceived violation of sovereignty.

This remains a developing story.