Investigation Reveals: Massive US Military Buildup in the Caribbean and a Secret Base Preparing for 'Potential Operations Inside Venezuela'

Visual investigations conducted by Reuters revealed that the US military is upgrading a defunct Cold War-era naval base in the Caribbean, a move that suggests potential preparations for military operations inside Venezuela.

Roosevelt Roads Base Comes Back to Life

• Base Location and Significance: Construction work began on September 17th at the former Roosevelt Roads Naval Station in Puerto Rico, which was closed in 2004. The base was once one of the largest US Naval bases globally, boasting a strategic location and vast area allowing for the assembly of military equipment.

• Upgrade Works: The upgrades include repaving access roads to the runway, improving takeoff and landing capabilities, and developing facilities at two other civilian airports in Puerto Rico and St. Croix Island (US Virgin Islands), which are located only about 800 kilometers from Venezuela.

• Goal of the Movements: Three US military officials and three naval experts confirmed to Reuters that the new construction work "shows preparations that could enable the US military to carry out operations inside Venezuela."

Largest Military Buildup and Pressure on Maduro

• Scale of Buildup: Reuters' investigation (using satellite imagery and tracking data) indicates that the current military concentration is the largest in the region since the 1994 'Uphold Democracy' operation in Haiti.

• Military Reinforcements: The deployment includes 13 warships, 5 support vessels, a nuclear submarine, and the aircraft carrier USS Gerald R. Ford (carrying about 10,000 personnel and over 75 combat aircraft), in addition to F-35 fighters and B-1 Lancer and B-52 bombers near the Venezuelan coast.

• Political Messages: Observers believe Washington aims to pressure the Maduro regime and monitor regional smuggling, while simultaneously paving the way for any potential military intervention.

• Threat and Venezuelan Response: Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro has repeatedly accused Washington of seeking his overthrow. Researchers suggest the movements are aimed at "intimidating the Maduro regime and its generals, hoping to create internal divisions."

• Counter-Narcotics Justification: White House spokeswoman Anna Kelly justified the moves by saying Trump pledged to "fight drug cartels," pointing to unprecedented actions to stop "narcoterrorism."

Infrastructure and Intelligence

• Military Infrastructure Development: Satellite images show 20 new tents, mobile surveillance equipment, and a mobile air traffic control tower near the runway in Puerto Rico, along with a new ammunition depot whose content has not yet been revealed.

• Intelligence Capabilities: US Poseidon P-8A surveillance aircraft conducted dozens of sorties over the Caribbean to gather intelligence. The MV Ocean Trader ship—linked to US Special Forces—was seen docking in Puerto Rico and St. Croix before being spotted off the coast of Venezuela in late October.