The US military steadily built up force concentrations in the Caribbean toward the end of 2025. That military buildup culminated in over 15,000 troops and 150 aircraft across the Joint Task Force that included all service branches and a US Navy carrier strike group at sea. There are many small sites where the US armed forces can operate from. However, a handful of permanent installations provide the majority of the support for operations in the region.

The headlines that followed the capture of Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro on January 3, 2026, reveal the scale of Operation Absolute Resolve and Operation Southern Spear that have become top priorities of the Trump Presidential Administration, as led by “Secretary of War” Pete Hegseth. Following the capture, the US enforced a total blockade on Venezuelan oil, seizing multiple tankers in the Caribbean earlier this month.

US Army Special Forces reportedly conducted a surgical insertion into the compound where Maduro and his wife were residing under the protection of their military security forces. The United States Air Force provided support with Lockheed Martin F-22 Raptors, Rockwell B-1B Lancer bombers, as well as intelligence, surveillance, reconnaissance (ISR) assets that are both manned and unmanned.

Military operations triggered temporary airspace closures on January 3, leading to the cancellation of over 400 flights in Puerto Rico, Aruba, and St. Thomas, affecting up to 75,000 travelers. The transfer of Nicolás Maduro aboard a Department of Justice-owned and operated Boeing 757 was also the most tracked plane in the world when it completed its journey on January 3 from Rafael Hernandez International Airport (BQN), a former USAF strip in Aguadilla, Puerto Rico.

Now, let’s go down the list of the faces in the area that served to support military operations like the one that successfully apprehended President Maduro. Each installation played a specialized role in suppressing Venezuelan air defenses and enabling the « snatch-and-grab » mission by Delta Force.

5

Hato International Airport, Curaçao

100-200 Troops

Operated by the US Air Force, this facility is a key forward operating location (FOL). Its strategic role is centered on counternarcotics monitoring and interdiction operations in the northern source zone near Colombia and Venezuela. It is a tenant activity on the existing civilian airfield, not a standalone US base.

The Cooperative Security Location (CSL) serves as a critical hub for aerial detection and monitoring of drug trafficking. During the raid against Maduro, these sites managed the complex air traffic involved in the suppression of enemy air defenses (SEAD) across northern Venezuela.

The base frequently hosts the 53rd Weather Reconnaissance Squadron (« Hurricane Hunters« ). In late 2025, they were deployed there to provide real-time data for storm forecasting throughout the Caribbean. In recent months, the CSL has played a role in broader regional security operations, including a US military buildup intended to pressure Venezuela and other regional powers.

Day-to-day operations are managed by the 429th Expeditionary Operations Squadron. Only about a dozen permanent military personnel are assigned for long-term tours at the facility. These troops are supplemented by between 100 and 200 additional Airmen who deploy on temporary assignment for specific missions that last anywhere from two weeks to six months.

4

Reina Beatrix International Airport, Aruba

100-200 Troops

Similar to the Curaçao location, this CSL supports US operations through a ten-year agreement with the Netherlands. Its strategic role is also primarily focused on aerial surveillance and interdiction to combat illicit trafficking. It is a tenant activity on the civilian airfield, utilizing existing infrastructure rather than operating as a standalone base. Aircraft based here track suspicious vessels and planes in the « northern source zone, » which includes the Venezuelan border and the Guajira Peninsula of Colombia.

Since late 2025 and early 2026, the location has been part of a broader US military buildup in the Caribbean (designated Operation Southern Spear) aimed at increasing pressure on regional adversaries. The site is managed by the 429th Expeditionary Operations Squadron, which oversees day-to-day operations at both the Aruba and Curaçao CSLs. It supports various unarmed platforms, including the E-3 Sentry (AWACS), P-2 Orion maritime patrol plane, and MQ-9 Reaper surveillance drones.

The AWACS and MQ-9 Reaper drones provided persistent « pattern of life » intelligence on Maduro’s movements leading up to the raid. During the raid, these sites managed the complex air traffic involved in the suppression of enemy air defenses (SEAD) across northern Venezuela.

As part of a greater multinational effort, the site provides a forward platform for surveillance aircraft to identify and report illicit cargo movements to international law enforcement for interdiction. The operation is governed by a long-term bilateral agreement between the Kingdom of the Netherlands, the Government of Aruba, and the United States. Under this treaty, the CSL is restricted to non-lethal missions focused solely on detecting and monitoring illicit trafficking.

3

Soto Cano Air Base (Joint Task Force Bravo), Honduras

500+ Troops

While technically in Central America, this joint base supports USAF operations throughout the broader region. Its strategic role involves providing a forward presence for humanitarian assistance, disaster relief, and joint training exercises with partner nations, as well as counter-narcotics support. Joint Task Force Bravo is the longest-standing task force in the US Military and serves as a critical rapid response hub for Central America.

Soto Cano was a critical part of the airlift efforts that were able to deploy hundreds of Special Operations forces to Caracas, Venezuela, during the raid to capture Maduro. The First Battalion, 228th Aviation Regiment (Army) conducts airlift support, medical evacuations, and firefighting missions using UH-60 Black Hawk and CH-47 Chinook helicopters.

The Joint Task Force has over 500 troops and another 500 Honduran civilians working together under its mission umbrella. The 612th Air Base Squadron (Air Force) operates and maintains the airfield, providing air traffic control, logistics, and fire protection for a 24-hour C-5 Galaxy capable runway.

The airlift capacity of Joint Task Force Bravo makes it a primary launching point for crisis response throughout the region. That includes hurricane relief, aerial firefighting, and Humanitarian Assistance and Disaster Response (HADR). JTF-Bravo also coordinates with partner nations to monitor and interdict drug trafficking and hosts multinational exercises for firefighters to enhance emergency and medical readiness.

The base’s runway is shared with the Palmerola International Airport (XPL), allowing for both military operations and commercial civilian flights. A new combined joint Operation Center (CJOC) was opened in February of 2025. The facility enhances coordination between American and Honduran forces to deliver and execute crisis response faster.

2

Roosevelt Roads Naval Station/José Aponte de la Torre Airport, Puerto Rico

1,000+ Troops

Roosevelt Roads Naval Station, located in Ceiba, Puerto Rico, was officially closed as an active military installation in March 2004 but has seen a significant increase in US Navy activity and has been functionally reactivated since September 2025. After closure, portions of the land were transferred to the Puerto Rican government, a significant part became a wetlands preserve, and the airfield was converted into the public-use José Aponte de la Torre Airport.

Roosevelt Roads hosted a significant fighter contingent, including F-22 Raptors, F-35s, and EA-18G Growler electronic-warfare aircraft used to jam Venezuelan radars in support of Absolute Resolve. An AC-130J Ghostrider gunship from the 16th Special Operations Squadron also operated out of this facility to provide close air support. The permanent forces are around 1,000-strong, but for the surge, the base hosted up to 15,000 troops.

The airfield has seen increased activity with the deployment of F-35 stealth fighters, AC-130J Ghostrider gunships, helicopters, and transport aircraft. The current operations primarily focus on counter-drug missions and maritime domain awareness in the Caribbean Sea lanes, as well as deterrence operations particularly targeted at Venezuela. The 11,000-foot runway and deep-water harbor also make it a critical location for HADR operations.

The US military has used the facility to stage supplies and personnel during disaster relief efforts, such as after Hurricane Maria in 2017. Commissioned in 1943, Roosevelt Roads grew into one of the largest naval facilities in the world, a strategic hub for the Atlantic and Caribbean operations. The base’s closure in 2004 followed public protests over Navy training practices on the nearby island of Vieques.

1

Muñiz Air National Guard Base, Puerto Rico

1,000+ Troops

This is the primary US military air hub in the Caribbean and serves as a strategic « air bridge » for US Southern Command (SOUTHCOM) operations. Its strategic role is to provide contingency response, logistical support, and command and control for regional missions, including counter-narcotics, humanitarian assistance, and disaster relief, leveraging its location for rapid deployment into the southern region.

Muñiz Air National Guard Base (ANGB), located within the grounds of the Luis Muñoz Marín International Airport in Carolina, Puerto Rico. This base was the primary functional “air bridge” for US Armed Forces entering the region from the continental United States under the buildup of Operation Absolute Resolve and Southern Spear.

Similar to Roosevelt Roads, the permanent force is relatively small, but the base hosts tens-of-thousands of troops on deployments. The primary unit at the base is the 156th Wing of the Puerto Rico Air National Guard. Its core mission has shifted over time from fighter aircraft to air mobility. The base facilitates the mobilization and deployment of troops, including Army and Air National Guard personnel from Puerto Rico, for worldwide deployments.

The base is essential for rapid response to local emergencies and natural disasters, such as the 2010 Haiti earthquake and hurricanes in the Caribbean. It provides the capability to quickly open airfields and manage the logistics of incoming aid and personnel. The 156th Wing is tasked with providing combat-ready, agile contingency response forces and flexible combat communication capabilities worldwide.