Venezuela’s Flyovers: A Message of Readiness and Defiance

On the night of September 5-6, 2025, Venezuelan military aircraft once again flew over the American destroyer USS Jason Dunham in international waters of the Caribbean Sea, marking the second such incident in just 24 hours. According to sources, two Venezuelan Air Force F-16s conducted this provocative flyover, further escalating tensions between the United States and Venezuela.

The USS Jason Dunham, part of a flotilla of seven U.S. military vessels deployed in the region to combat drug trafficking, was reportedly subjected to this aerial maneuver as a show of force by the Venezuelan military. The Pentagon characterized the actions as a “cat-and-mouse game,” labeling them “highly provocative” and asserting that they aim to disrupt U.S. counternarco-terrorism operations. While it remains unclear whether the Venezuelan aircraft were armed during the second flyover, the Aegis-equipped USS Jason Dunham did not respond with any retaliatory measures.

This incident follows a similar occurrence on September 4, when two Venezuelan F-16s flew over the USS Jason Dunham, which the Pentagon also condemned as a demonstration of military might. Although no direct confrontations, such as gunfire, took place during these flyovers, the Defense Department noted that the speed and maneuverability of the Venezuelan jets could theoretically allow them to strike U.S. vessels before air defenses could be activated.

In response to the escalating situation, Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro condemned U.S. actions in the Caribbean, describing them as a “criminal threat.” He affirmed that Caracas would continue to conduct military maneuvers to defend its sovereignty, signaling that tensions in the region are likely to persist.