An escalating military standoff between the United States and Venezuela has led both sides to jam satellite navigation signals across parts of the Caribbean, according to satellite data and defense officials, increasing the risk of accidents for civilian aircraft and maritime traffic that rely on GPS technology.
The surge in Caribbean GPS jamming reflects parallel defensive measures by the two adversaries as tensions rise over security, drug trafficking and regional influence.
While aimed at protecting military assets from potential attacks, the interference is spilling into civilian airspace and shipping lanes, experts said.
Data analyzed by Stanford University researchers and shared by a US official speaking on condition of anonymity show that some US Navy warships operating in the Caribbean have actively jammed GPS signals in their immediate vicinity.
Among the deployed vessels is the USS Gerald R. Ford, the Navy’s most advanced aircraft carrier.
The Trump administration has framed the deployment as part of a counternarcotics campaign, alleging that drug trafficking operations tied to Venezuela’s government threaten US security.
US Southern Command oversees the naval presence in the region. Venezuela, facing mounting US military pressure, has responded with its own signal interference.
According to an analysis by Spire Global, a satellite data company, Venezuelan forces have jammed GPS signals around key infrastructure sites, including military installations, oil refineries and power plants.
Signals experts said the Caribbean GPS jamming appears designed to prevent drones or GPS guided munitions from striking sensitive targets.
“It is defensive in nature,” said Logan Scott, a radio frequency expert who worked on early GPS receiver technology. “If you have a military site, denying navigation signals can make it harder for drones or precision weapons to reach it.”
However, Scott added that when both sides employ similar tactics in close proximity, the disruption spreads well beyond intended targets.
“The only difference is which side of the line you’re on,” he said. Gen. Willie Shelton, the former head of US Air Force Space Command, said the source of the interference is less important than its consequences.
“Whether jamming is due to the US or Venezuelan forces, it really doesn’t matter. You don’t want an aircraft going in there,” he said.
Satellite monitoring firms tracking navigation interference report that the Caribbean has experienced one of the most prolonged spikes in GPS disruption outside of active war zones.
Similar patterns have been observed in Eastern Europe during the war in Ukraine and in parts of the Middle East where military operations are ongoing.
In the Caribbean, commercial pilots and ship operators rely heavily on GPS due to limited radar coverage over open water.
Experts warned that sustained Caribbean GPS jamming could degrade backup navigation systems and increase the likelihood of near misses or groundings, particularly during poor weather or nighttime operations.
Commercial pilots flying through the region have reported intermittent navigation alerts. “You see the GPS drop out for a few minutes, then come back,” said a Caribbean based airline captain who requested anonymity due to employer policies.
“It raises workload in the cockpit, especially on long overwater routes.”
Maritime operators expressed similar concerns.
“Modern shipping is built around satellite navigation,” said Luis Moreno, a shipping agent in Curaçao. “When signals become unreliable, crews have to fall back on older methods that not everyone is equally trained to use.”
US Southern Command, responding to questions, said it does not comment on “speculative reporting or unverified premises.”
A spokesperson said US naval forces continue to operate in international waters in accordance with international law and remain focused on counternarcotics missions with regional partners.
Venezuela’s government did not respond to requests for comment sent to its Communications Ministry. Defense analysts said Caribbean GPS jamming is likely to persist as long as tensions remain high.
Without formal coordination or deconfliction mechanisms, the risk to civilian aviation and shipping could grow if signal interference expands in range or intensity.
Some experts called for increased reliance on alternative navigation systems and clearer advisories to commercial operators. Others noted that international aviation and maritime bodies may face pressure to address the issue if disruptions become more frequent.
The parallel use of GPS jamming by US and Venezuelan forces underscores how modern military tactics can have unintended regional effects.
While intended to shield military assets, the growing interference is complicating civilian navigation across the Caribbean, highlighting the broader consequences of an increasingly militarized standoff.
