The United States ordered the USS Gerald R. Ford to sail toward South America in a major power move. The Pentagon confirmed the deployment on Friday, marking a sharp increase in military activity across the Caribbean and near Venezuelan waters.
Secretary of War Pete Hegseth directed the carrier and its strike group to join U.S. Southern Command operations. Pentagon spokesperson Sean Parnell said the mission would enhance America’s ability to track and dismantle criminal networks threatening U.S. security.
The Ford, accompanied by five destroyers, had been stationed in the Mediterranean. Sending an aircraft carrier into the region significantly amplifies Washington’s military presence at a tense geopolitical moment.
Night Strikes Mark Aggressive Anti-Drug Campaign
Hours before the announcement, Hegseth confirmed a tenth U.S. strike on a suspected drug-smuggling boat. The attack killed six people, raising the operation’s total death toll since September to at least 43.
Officials linked the targeted vessel to the Tren de Aragua gang, a violent organization originating in Venezuela. Hegseth said the assault occurred in international waters and was the first nighttime strike in the campaign.
He vowed to treat narcotics traffickers like terrorists, promising relentless pursuit. “If you smuggle drugs in our hemisphere, we will track you, hunt you, and kill you,” he said.
Caracas Counters as Analysts Question U.S. Intent
The Trump administration connected multiple destroyed vessels to Venezuela, accusing President Nicolás Maduro’s government of aiding traffickers. U.S. bombers recently flew near Venezuela’s coast, fueling speculation about broader military intentions.
Maduro praised national forces and civilian militias for defensive drills covering 2,000 kilometers of coastline. He declared Venezuela ready to protect its shores, saying, “Not war, just peace—forever.”
Regional experts said the buildup reflects U.S. political strategy more than drug enforcement. Elizabeth Dickinson of the International Crisis Group remarked, “Drugs are the excuse. The U.S. is signaling it will use force to control dissenting governments.”
Hegseth compared the anti-cartel operations to America’s post-9/11 war on terror. Trump labeled cartels unlawful combatants and declared an armed conflict against them. When asked if he would seek Congress’s approval, he said, “We’re just going to kill the people bringing drugs into our country—they’ll be dead.”
