WILLEMSTAD - A U.S. B-52H Stratofortress bomber flew along the coast of Venezuela on Monday night, escorted by two F/A-18 Super Hornets that had earlier spent more than an hour operating north of Aruba, Curaçao and Bonaire. The military flights were visible in real time on Flightradar24, drawing immediate attention across the region.
The two F/A-18s — all-weather multirole fighter and attack aircraft — are part of the air wing stationed aboard the USS Gerald R. Ford, the largest aircraft carrier in the U.S. Navy. Their presence in the ABC airspace was notable for its duration: the jets circled north of the islands before joining the B-52 for its coastal pass.
According to the flight data, the B-52 flew at approximately 23,700 feet, skimming the Venezuelan coastline just north of Caracas, in what analysts describe as a deliberate show of strategic reach.
Part of a Broader Pattern of U.S. Activity
Monday’s flight is the latest in a series of visible U.S. military movements in the southern Caribbean. Earlier this month, two F-35 fighter jets flew between Curaçao and Venezuela at low altitude and close to Venezuelan airspace — manoeuvres that sparked regional debate and public concern.
The arrival of a heavy strategic bomber in the area adds a new layer to the U.S. presence.
“The visibility of a B-52 in this region is a significant escalation in terms of signaling,” a regional defense observer told Crónicas del Caribe. “It demonstrates long-range capability and serves as a reminder of U.S. reach in a period of heightened tension.”
Venezuela Also Increasing Air Activity
At the same time, Venezuela has been conducting its own military air exercises, deploying SU-30 Flanker and F-16 fighter aircraft around national air bases. International military publications report growing Venezuelan concern about U.S. pressure near its borders and increased readiness in response to American flights in the Caribbean zone.
The combination of U.S. strategic aircraft and Venezuelan air force manoeuvres paints a picture of a region experiencing rising military pressure, even as governments publicly downplay the risk of escalation.
Most Significant Flight in Recent Weeks
Defense analysts say Monday’s B-52 movement is the most striking U.S. air operation near the ABC islands and the Venezuelan coast in recent weeks, due to both the type of aircraft involved and the proximity to contested regional airspace.
Local officials in Curaçao have not yet commented on the flight activity. However, the manoeuvres come amid broader concerns from Caribbean governments about increased militarization in the region — concerns that have already prompted parliamentary questions in The Hague and emergency briefings in Willemstad.
As tensions continue to rise around Venezuela’s coastline, the Caribbean finds itself once again at the crossroads of geopolitical competition — with the ABC islands directly under the flight path.