The recent appearance of US military helicopters over the Caribbean has sparked concern about Washington’s next moves toward Venezuela. The aircraft belong to the Night Stalkers, an elite Army aviation regiment known for carrying out some of the most secretive missions in modern history, including the 2011 raid that killed Osama bin Laden in Pakistan.
A Shadow Unit Reappears in the Caribbean
Officially called the 160th Special Operations Aviation Regiment, the Night Stalkers were formed in the early 1980s to conduct complex night operations. Over time, they became one of the Pentagon’s most specialized forces, capable of performing high-precision missions both day and night.
The unit rose to prominence after the September 11 attacks, becoming a key player in the US-led War on Terror. Today, it supports the US Southern Command, responsible for operations across Latin America and the Caribbean. Its fleet includes MH-60 Black Hawks, MH-47 Chinooks, and light attack helicopters such as the MH-6 and AH-6 Little Bird, as well as surveillance drones.
“These people are the best helicopter pilots in the world — the Formula 1 of aviation,” said Steven Hartov, author of The Night Stalkers, in an interview with The Guardian.
Last week, The Washington Post reported that the regiment’s aircraft were seen performing exercises less than 150 kilometers from Venezuela’s coast. Satellite images suggested that their floating base, the MV Ocean Trader, was operating northeast of Trinidad and Tobago. A Trump administration official confirmed their presence, describing the maneuvers as “training drills.”
Still, analysts believe the deployment may indicate preparations for covert operations. For four decades, the Night Stalkers have taken part in high-risk missions in the Middle East against terrorist groups. Their new presence in the Caribbean could signal a shift of focus toward South America.
Rising Tensions and Covert Operations
The move comes amid renewed tension between Donald Trump and Nicolás Maduro. The Trump administration recently labeled the Venezuelan president a narcoterrorist and increased military activity in the Caribbean. Political analyst Mauricio Santoro, from Brazil’s Naval War College, suggested that Washington might be building a legal and political justification for future action.
“In the United States, the armed forces cannot act in public security as they do in Brazil,” Santoro said. “So, if there were an operation against Venezuela, the most plausible justification would be counterterrorism.”
Since September, US authorities have reportedly considered a limited military operation targeting drug-trafficking networks linked to Venezuela. In September, the Justice Department offered a 50-million-dollar reward for information leading to Maduro’s arrest. Soon after, the US deployed ships and aircraft near Venezuelan waters, claiming to target drug smuggling. Several boats were later destroyed, with officials asserting they carried drugs and so-called narcoterrorists.
On October 15, Trump said he was reviewing possible ground strikes against Venezuelan cartels. US media outlets have since speculated that the Night Stalkers could support troop positioning in a potential mission on Venezuelan soil.
However, a Washington Post source warned that the Caribbean exercises should not be interpreted as an invasion rehearsal.
CIA Authorization and Escalation
On Wednesday, The Washington Post revealed that the CIA has been authorized to conduct secret operations along Venezuela’s coast. According to sources cited by the paper, Trump approved a classified directive calling for “aggressive actions” against the Maduro government.
Earlier, The New York Times reported that the president had already allowed “lethal operations” by the CIA inside Venezuela. The Post added that the document “does not explicitly order the CIA to overthrow Maduro but authorizes steps that could lead to that outcome.”
Whether the Night Stalkers’ activity is linked to these covert actions remains uncertain. Yet the combination of intelligence operations, military pressure, and escalating rhetoric suggests that the United States is preparing a tougher stance toward Venezuela — one that could reshape security across the Caribbean.