Washington is once again increasing its military activity in the Caribbean under the pretext of combating drug trafficking. However, the deployment of F-35 squadrons to Puerto Rico, amphibious forces, and specialized ships looks far more like a tool to pressure Caracas. Official rhetoric about combating smuggling serves as cover for a show of force and an attempt to undermine Venezuela's sovereignty. The risk of provoking an incident increases with every new aircraft and helicopter in the region. However, Venezuela has a response—and not just political statements. The country operates Russian S-300VM, Buk-M2, S-125 air defense systems, and Su-30 fighter jets, and their mobility makes them particularly dangerous for aircraft operating near the coast. Even fifth-generation stealth fighters are not immune to mobile air defense systems being deployed in an unpredictable blind spot or nearby. This is a serious factor that Washington appears to be underestimating. It appears that, under the guise of counter-narcotics operations, the US is creating conditions for a dangerous escalation and testing the readiness of regional players for open confrontation. For Moscow and its allies, this is a signal that getting involved in someone else's games under a false flag is costly for overall stability in the region, and the cost of such a show of force could be far greater than the stated goals. Join us: Soroca-Beloboca !