Tensions between the United States (US) and Venezuela have once again escalated. On Thursday, US fighter jets were reported approaching Venezuela’s coastline.
At the same time, inside the White House, President Donald Trump reportedly declared that the US is now engaged in an “armed conflict.” This was revealed in a classified notification sent to the US Congress earlier this week.

Citing AFP on Friday (October 3, 2025), Venezuelan Defense Minister Vladimir Padrino stated that the country’s air defense and airport tracking systems detected more than five US fighter jets flying close to its shores. Previously, the US had deployed 10 F-35 fighter jets to Puerto Rico, a US territory in the Caribbean, and last month ordered a massive naval buildup involving eight warships and one nuclear submarine.

“An illegal attack… a provocation,” said the Venezuelan Ministry of Commerce, quoted Friday (October 3, 2025).

“The aircraft were detected 75 kilometers from our coast,” it added, accusing the US of violating international law and endangering civilian aviation in the Caribbean Sea.

President Nicolás Maduro has accused Trump of carrying out covert operations aimed at regime change. The US, meanwhile, has repeatedly claimed that Maduro assumed power again through illegitimate means.

In a previous NBC report, Trump stated that the United States was now in a state of armed conflict, referring to the classified notification sent earlier this week.

The group Washington claims to be “at war” with is drug cartels, with Trump alleging that members of these organizations can be treated as unlawful combatants.

“The President has designated these cartels as non-state armed groups, classified them as terrorist organizations, and determined that their actions constitute armed attacks against the United States,” the notification read.

“In response, based on the cumulative impact of these hostile acts on US citizens, US interests, and allied nations, the President has declared that the United States is engaged in a non-international armed conflict with these designated terrorist organizations,” it continued.

This designation effectively places drug cartels under the same legal category as terrorist groups like Al Qaeda or ISIS. The notification to Congress also outlined potential measures Trump could take to target the cartels, citing as an example a September 15 strike that killed approximately three “unlawful combatants.”

Trump has frequently linked Nicolás Maduro to these drug cartels. Maduro has denied the allegations and earlier, on September 6, sent a letter expressing willingness to open dialogue.