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In September 2025, the U.S. deployed over 15,000 military personnel to Vieques, Puerto Rico, to combat Venezuelan drug trafficking. This reactivation of military bases like Roosevelt Roads and Ramey Air Force Base has reignited long-standing tensions, as it follows the U.S.

Navy's withdrawal in 2003 after years of protests. At least 150 deaths at sea have been reported, raising allegations of extrajudicial killings. Governor Jenniffer González Colón has expressed support for the military presence, citing economic benefits, while local activists warn of historical patterns of colonialism and militarization. Calls for transparency about military operations continue without response from U.S. officials.