U.S. Marine Conduct Landing Drills In Puerto Rico As Trump Claims Maduro's Days Are 'Numbered'

U.S. Marines conducted landing drills in Puerto Rico during the weekend as tensions with the Venezuelan regime continue to escalate.

In a social media post, the Southern Command said Marines conducted "training operations in Puerto Rico" in support of the mission, which is focused on President Donald Trump's "priorities to disrupt illicit drug trafficking."

The U.S. has been ramping up military activities in Puerto Rico since the operations in the Caribbean and the Eastern Pacific began two months age. It has also been upgrading an abandoned naval base from the Cold War in the territory, according to a new report, which could support operations against the Venezuelan regime.

Citing satellite imagery and photos, Reuters noted that troops are rebuilding the former Roosevelt Roads naval base in Puerto Rico by clearing and repaving taxiways leading to the runway.

The outlet noted that the base is one of the largest in the world and offers a large amount of space for gathering equipment. The U.S. is also building facilities at civilian airports in Puerto Rico and St. Croix in the U.S. Virgin Islands.

Three military officials told Reuters that the construction could allow the military to conduct operations inside Venezuela.

Christopher Hernandez-Roy, a senior fellow at the Center for Strategic and International Studies (CSIS), added that the preparations could be "designed to scare the pants off the Maduro regime and the generals around him, with the hope that it will create fissures."

The latest developments in the region involve the U.S. issuing a Notice to Air Missions (NOTAM) restricting airspace off the coast of Ceiba, Puerto Rico, from November 1 through March 31, 2026, citing "special security reasons."

The move came minutes before President Donald Trump told reporters aboard Air Force One that he is not considering strikes on land inside Venezuela. Asked directly whether such military action was under discussion, Trump responded, "No," offering no further details.

The denial, echoed by Secretary of State Marco Rubio, came after the the Miami Herald reported that the administration has "made the decision" to strike Venezuelan military sites linked to what U.S. officials call the Cartel de los Soles. The paper quoted one official warning that Venezuela's Nicolás Maduro "might soon discover that he cannot flee the country even if he decided to."