U.S. Deployment in the Caribbean: Why Defense Secretary Hegseth Says “This Is Not Training”
Introduction
The United States has entered a new and tense chapter in its military posture with the announcement that thousands of American troops have been deployed to the Caribbean. In early September 2025, Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth visited the USS Iwo Jima, docked near Puerto Rico, and told sailors and Marines: “This is not training.”
The naval operation which seemed ordinary to observers turned out to be an actual mission to address what Washington identifies as a critical national security issue. The scale of the deployment, the political context in which it is happening, and the regional implications all mark this as one of the most consequential American military actions in the Western Hemisphere since the Cold War.
The article investigates the extent of the military buildup and its declared goals and the resulting legal and political disputes and the future implications for U.S. relations with the Caribbean and Venezuela.
1. Background: From Counter-Narcotics to Strategic Projection
The official reason behind this operation is to conduct a major counternarcotics operation. The United States government identifies organized networks which include Tren de Aragua cartel elements from Venezuela as responsible for smuggling dangerous narcotics through maritime routes that enter U.S. territory directly.
According to administration officials, these networks represent a “poisoning” of the American people, and confronting them has become a national priority.
Multiple experts believe that the military presence exceeds normal drug enforcement operations. Destroyers, an amphibious assault ship, submarines, and even a wing of advanced F-35 stealth fighters have been positioned in Puerto Rico and throughout the southern Caribbean.
The operation requires more than 4,500 sailors and Marines to execute because it serves as a demonstration of military power which communicates directly to regional adversaries.
2. The Statement: “This Is Not Training”
On September 8, Defense Secretary Hegseth stood on the deck of the USS Iwo Jima alongside Joint Chiefs Chairman General Dan Caine.
He made his statement directly to the troops and journalists who were present: “This is not training.” The media picked up on this statement because it showed the United States was adopting a new method of operation.
According to a recent report by Al Jazeera , Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth emphasized that the U.S. operation in the Caribbean is “not training” but a real mission tied to national security.Instead of conducting joint drills or rehearsals, the Pentagon was admitting that it had moved into an operational readiness posture.
All subsequent operations including sorties and deployments served the purpose of actual combat rather than training exercises.
The two main points of Hegseth’s message were to demonstrate to U.S. troops that their mission required urgency and to inform external actors especially Venezuela that Washington would increase military action if they interfered.
3. Military Capabilities on the Ground and at Sea
The deployment consists of:
- The USS Iwo Jima serves as an amphibious assault ship which transports Marines while providing capabilities to deploy helicopters drones and amphibious vehicles.
- Destroyers and Submarines: enhancing maritime security and projecting deterrence across regional sea lanes.
- The F-35 Fighter Jets operate from Puerto Rico’s airfields to provide quick response capabilities throughout the Caribbean region.
- The 4,500 Personnel force consists of sailors and pilots and Marines who operate as a combined arms unit for amphibious missions and advanced surveillance operations.
The current operation requires excessive resources because it uses more personnel and equipment than standard anti-drug operations which depend on Coast Guard cutters and surveillance planes and limited personnel.
The United States faces criticism because its counternarcotics operations serve to accomplish various strategic objectives.
4. Political Reactions in Washington
The deployment has caused intense arguments to emerge between members of the U.S. Congress. The President’s party members in Congress support the Caribbean mission because it shows the United States stands firm against drug cartels and hostile foreign governments.
Others are skeptical. House Armed Services Committee chairman Representative Adam Smith warned that attacking ships without evidence of current danger could violate international legal norms. Senator Rand Paul has condemned Vice President J.D. Vance for his statements about civilian deaths in a recent military operation which he believes show “reckless and morally troubling” behavior.
According to an insightful piece on AnonymousWire , analysts outline five potential paths toward resolving the conflict in Ukraine—ranging from ceasefires to full-scale collapse.The political dialogue will likely shift toward legal and constitutional matters related to the War Powers Resolution based on these emerging divisions. Congress was reportedly not fully consulted before the September 2 strike that sank a Venezuelan vessel, killing 11 people.
Whether such actions are lawful without congressional authorization remains a hotly contested issue.
5. Regional Reactions: Caribbean and Venezuelan Perspectives
The Caribbean region shows various responses to this developing trend.
- Puerto Rico: Governor Jenniffer González accepted the U.S. military deployment because she recognized the strategic value of the island for conducting anti-narcotics operations. The local activists made connections between the current situation and the long history of U.S. Navy operations in Vieques which resulted in environmental damage and widespread opposition to military activities. The protesters in San Juan displayed two main signs which read “Not again” and “Puerto Rico is not a training ground.”
- CARICOM States: The member states of CARICOM displayed different reactions to the crisis with Trinidad and Tobago showing restraint but other member states requested detailed information before making any statements about the escalation. Many fear that their small nations could become collateral players in a conflict not of their making.
- Venezuela: Caracas has strongly condemned the deployment. Vice President Delcy Rodríguez accused Washington of fabricating drug-trafficking allegations as a pretext for aggression. She demanded that regional states should not let the United States turn the Caribbean into a military zone.
6. Legal and Ethical Controversies
The sinking of a Venezuelan-flagged ship on September 2 remains at the center of international debate. Washington maintains the ship transported narcotics but Venezuela views this incident as piracy.
International law specialists agree that the necessity principle applies because an attack on the ship without an immediate danger might violate maritime law and the UN Charter.
Human rights organizations have expressed their concern because the number of civilian deaths may reach the level of extrajudicial killing.
Washington needs to protect both the legal basis of the strike and maintain political backing from the region.
7. Historical Echoes: Cold War Memories
The U.S. military actions in Latin America bring back memories of Cold War era when Washington used military force to shape political results in the entire region.
The three historical events which stand out as significant include the Cuban Missile Crisis of 1962 and the invasion of Grenada in 1983 and the multiple Central American interventions.
The United States has positioned its advanced warships and stealth aircraft near Venezuela which creates a new threat of turning the Caribbean into a major geopolitical conflict zone.
8. Strategic Implications Beyond Narcotics
The stated mission of counternarcotics operations hides a wider strategic purpose according to outside observers. The operation demonstrates U.S. military readiness to intervene in Venezuelan waters which weakens Maduro’s government.
It also serves as a message to other global actors, particularly China and Russia, which have expanded influence in Latin America through trade, investment, and arms sales. Washington proves its power to lead in its own hemisphere through its dominance of the Caribbean region.
9. What Comes Next?
The operation’s path into the future has not been determined. Possible scenarios include:
- The mission duration would be limited to several weeks which would serve as a warning to adversaries without leading to increased military action.
- The deployment of extra forces will occur when narcotics trafficking routes remain active or Venezuela starts diplomatic or military actions against the United States.
- The President encounters possible legal challenges because courts and Congress have the power to restrict his ability to operate these programs.
- The diplomatic situation in the region might deteriorate because neighboring countries in the Caribbean might view this operation as an unapproved intervention that creates instability.
Conclusion
The United States will deploy military forces to the Caribbean in September 2025 to show its determination to all nations throughout the entire hemisphere. Secretary Hegseth’s words, “This is not training,” crystallize the seriousness of the operation.
But multiple doubts continue to exist. The problem deals with narcotics but it also involves the transformation of political alliances between different areas. Can Washington justify the legality of sinking a foreign vessel? The Caribbean nations will they accept a larger U.S. presence in their region?
The Caribbean region stands as a strategic location between trade routes and conflict zones which now faces new global tensions. The initial military declaration could end up transforming the path of U.S. foreign policy throughout the Americas.