US-Venezuela military buildup tests Puerto Rico’s painful past
The Take
Al Jazeera
4.7 • 748 Ratings
🗓️ 10 December 2025
⏱️ 18 minutes
🧾️ Download transcript
Summary
The US military is increasing its presence in Puerto Rico as the Trump administration prepares for a possible clash with Venezuela over alleged drug trafficking. Ten thousand troops, advanced jets, drones and the USS Iwo Jima now sit on an island still scarred by decades of military pollution. What does this new buildup mean for Puerto Rico’s future?
In this episode:
- Israel Melendez Ayala (@IsraelAyala144), Writer and Historian
Episode credits:
This episode was produced by Tracie Hunte, Noor Wazwaz, and Sarí el-Khalili, with Diana Ferrero, Haleema Shah, Fatima Shafiq, Farhan Rafid, Tamara Khandaker, and our guest host, Natasha Del Toro. It was edited by Kylene Kiang.
Our sound designer is Alex Roldan. Rick Rush mixed this episode. Our video editors are Hisham Abu Salah and Mohannad Al-Melhem. Alexandra Locke is The Take’s executive producer. Ney Alvarez is Al Jazeera’s head of audio.
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Transcript
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| 0:00.0 | Al Jazeera Podcasts. |
| 0:07.0 | Today, the return of U.S. troops to Puerto Rico resurfaces old wounds. |
| 0:17.0 | So much labor sacrifice to get the Navy out of Vykes. |
| 0:22.3 | And it was finally done in 2003. |
| 0:24.3 | So again, for many people, it is very heartbreaking. |
| 0:27.5 | As tensions between the U.S. and Venezuelan governments continue to rise, |
| 0:31.7 | could Puerto Rico be caught in the crossfire? |
| 0:35.5 | I'm Natasha Deltoro, and this is The Take. |
| 0:42.7 | Before we continue with today's show, please remember to leave us a comment and let us know what you think about today's episode and what stories you want us to do next. |
| 0:51.4 | Or if you're listening on the podcast app, let us know where you're listening from. |
| 0:55.3 | And while you're there, don't forget to give us a five-star review. |
| 0:59.1 | It helps the show. |
| 1:03.7 | Hi, my name is Israel and Melend de Sallala. |
| 1:05.8 | I'm from Puerto Rico. |
| 1:07.1 | I'm based in San Juan. |
| 1:08.5 | I'm a historian and also a freelance writer. |
| 1:11.6 | Israel, it's such a pleasure to have you here on the take. |
| 1:15.4 | So welcome. |
| 1:16.4 | Today we're going to be talking about the remilitarization of Puerto Rico. |
| 1:20.6 | And I want to start with a scene on the ground in Puerto Rico. |
| 1:24.6 | So Roosevelt Rhodes is a U.S. naval base on the eastern coast of the island, |
| 1:29.3 | which closed down in 2004, following years of protests by the island's inhabitants. But now, |
... |
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