By Joan Conover, SSCA
Independent monitoring sources and maritime operators have confirmed multiple episodes of GPS and GNSS interference across the Southern Caribbean between October 29 and November 7, 2025. The interference has been concentrated near Venezuela, Trinidad and Tobago, and the eastern Caribbean waters close to the Colombian coast.
These disruptions were first reported by aviation and maritime tracking networks and corroborated by open‑source intelligence outlets. Position errors and satellite signal losses were documented in both maritime and aviation operations throughout the region, prompting regional warnings and navigation advisories.
According to Defence Blog (October 31 2025) and Gate Checked (October 31 2025), a major spike in GPS blocking was detected beginning October 29, 2025, with interference maps showing degradation centered off Venezuela’s coast and in adjacent waters near Trinidad. Sky News (November 5 2025) later reported expert assessments that U.S. counter‑interference testing may have contributed to the anomalies, which extended through early November.
Civil aviation authorities and maritime coordination centers continue to warn of possible GNSS unreliability in the Southern Caribbean sector. Mariners transiting the area should cross‑check positional data using radar, visual bearings, and manual fixes until signals stabilize.
The Hybrid Applied Layer (HAL) and the Seven Seas Cruising Association (SSCA) are collecting incident logs from vessels affected by the interference. Mariners are encouraged to record time, position, and system behavior for each occurrence and report them via national maritime authorities or recognized safety channels.
This incident underscores the continuing vulnerability of satellite‑dependent navigation systems and highlights the importance of maintaining traditional navigation proficiency and diversified situational‑awareness tools.
Sources
Defence Blog (Oct 31 2025): https://defence-blog.com/gps-jamming-detected-off-venezuela’s-coast
Gate Checked (Oct 31 2025): https://www.gatechecked.com/gps-jamming-activity-detected-around-venezuela-and-trinidad-10958
Sky News (Nov 5 2025): https://news.sky.com/story/us-likely-jammed-gps-signals-off-venezuela-coast-expert-tells-sky-news-13464222
