US imposes flight restrictions off Puerto Rico under Pentagon orders
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FAA announces flight ban off Puerto Rico's southeast coast under Pentagon directive amid speculation over US military intentions in the region.
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The US and Puerto Rican flags (AFP)
The US Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), following orders from the Department of War, has issued a Notice to Airmen (NOTAM) declaring “Temporary Flight Restrictions for Special Security Reasons” off the southeast coast of Ceiba, Puerto Rico.
The restrictions will be in effect from November 1, 2025, at 00:00 UTC until March 31, 2026, at 23:59 UTC, effectively banning most flights over the designated area for a five-month period.
Questions raised
Earlier Friday, the Miami Herald, citing unnamed sources, reported that the US was preparing airstrikes on military installations in Venezuela, possibly within days or even hours. The report raised questions about the scope and motive of the airspace restriction off Puerto Rico’s coast, given the island’s strategic position in the Caribbean.
Shortly after the report circulated, US President Donald Trump stated that he was not considering any strikes within Venezuelan territory.
US Secretary of State Marco Rubio also dismissed the Miami Herald's claims, describing the report as false. He claimed that there were no active plans for military action against Venezuela.
Puerto Rico becomes launchpad for growing US military ops in Caribbean
However, the United States has been slowly reviving its former military base in Puerto Rico.
The Pentagon has remained opaque about the full extent of its Caribbean buildup. But reports and satellite imagery reveal a powerful fleet: guided-missile destroyers, shallow-water combat vessels, and amphibious assault groups, all stationed near Venezuelan waters. The USS Gerald R. Ford, the US Navy’s most powerful aircraft carrier, is also reportedly heading toward the region.
The operations are being carried out under the guise of counter-narcotics efforts. US Southern Command describes the initiative as a strategic deployment to disrupt trafficking routes through the Caribbean, which it claims are exploited by smugglers.
Yet the militarization of these waters and the transformation of Caribbean territories into staging grounds raise far deeper questions. What lies behind the reactivation of a once-decommissioned base? And what is the long-term cost for the people of the region?
Read more: US deploys 10 fighter jets to Puerto Rico, flaring Venezuela tensions
