Governor meets with war secretary, chairman of Joint Chiefs of Staff
- The San Juan Daily Star
- 3 days ago
- 4 min read
By THE STAR STAFF
War Secretary Pete Hegseth and Air Force Gen. Dan Caine, the chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, made an unannounced visit to Puerto Rico on Monday as the U.S. military intensified its counter-narcotics efforts in the Caribbean.
During the visit, Hegseth delivered a message from President Donald Trump to 300 soldiers at the Muñiz Air National Guard Base near San Juan, as stated in an emailed message from Gov. Jenniffer González Colón. As part of the efforts to counter narcotics trafficking in the region, the U.S. military deployed 10 Marine Corps F-35 fighter jets to Puerto Rico following an incident in which Venezuelan military jets flew over a U.S. Navy vessel in international waters last week.
González Colón, along with first gentleman Dr. José Yovín Vargas, welcomed Hegseth and Caine.
“We thank President Trump and his administration for recognizing the strategic importance of Puerto Rico to the national security of the United States and for their fight against drug cartels and the narco-dictator Nicolás Maduro,” the governor said. “We support America First policies that guarantee the security of our borders and combat illicit activities to protect American citizens and our nation.”
Also at the meeting, at the aforementioned airbase in Carolina, were Puerto Rico National Guard Adjt. Gen. Col. Carlos José Rivera Román and Public Safety Secretary Gen. Arthur Garffer, along with several military personnel from various branches.
Hegseth expressed gratitude to the military for their service, describing them as “American warriors,” and emphasized that the men and women in the department would be well-prepared.
“This fight against drug trafficking, in which President Trump is investing, here at the United States border in the Caribbean, will certainly position the island,” González Colón added. “I believe we are, for the first time, combating the root of the problem by addressing where the drugs originate.”
The U.S. began military exercises in southern Puerto Rico as part of an effort to curb drug trafficking. Maduro, the Venezuelan president, has said it is part of an effort to cause a regime change in the South American country.
On Sept. 2, Trump announced that the U.S. had carried out a strike in the southern Caribbean against a vessel that had departed from Venezuela and was suspected of carrying drugs. Eleven people were killed in this rare U.S. military operation in the region, with the president stating that the vessel was operated by the Venezuelan gang Tren de Aragua.
While the Prime Minister of Trinidad and Tobago praised the strike, suggesting that the U.S. should eliminate all drug traffickers “violently,” reactions from other Caribbean leaders were more subdued. Barbadian Foreign Minister Kerrie Symmonds informed the Associated Press that members of Caricom, a regional trade bloc, sent a letter to U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio requesting an open line of communication on developments, stating their desire to avoid being surprised by any U.S. actions against Venezuela.
Maduro has vowed to defend Venezuela’s sovereignty.
Senator backs bill in favor of US military efforts against drug trafficking
Aguadilla District Sen. Karen Román Rodríguez, meanwhile, signaled her strong support for Senate Resolution 288, introduced by Senate President Thomas Rivera Schatz, which expresses support for the U.S. government, its military, and President Donald Trump in the fight against drug trafficking in the region.
The measure recognizes the military’s efforts to combat the operations of the Cartel del Sol and the Tren de Aragua, criminal organizations responsible for much of the drug trafficking in the Caribbean.
“The resolution filed by our president is a significant step forward in the war on drugs, reaffirming the commitment of our government, our ideals, and our party,” the New Progressive Party senator said.” We must put ourselves in the shoes of the thousands of parents and loved ones who have suffered the loss of a child or family member due to drugs, dictator Maduro, and his accomplice Diosdado Cabello, who are directly responsible for the misfortune of hundreds of families in Puerto Rico.”
Román Rodríguez emphasized that military activity is already being observed at various bases on the island and on the northern, southern, eastern and western coasts, as part of the prevention and security measures.
“It’s important for our nation to know that Puerto Rico fully supports these operations,” she said. “They should even consider the possibility of having them operate permanently from our bases, which ultimately serve as defenses against any enemy attempt. If countries like Costa Rica, Ecuador, Chile and the Dominican Republic have made themselves available to the U.S. government, why should we, having these facilities here, refuse?”
Resolution 288 was expected to be approved Monday during the Ordinary Session with the majority support of the NPP delegation.