The U.S. military deployed the USS Gerald R. Ford to South American waters in a significant power move. The Pentagon confirmed the deployment on Friday as tensions rise across the Caribbean and near Venezuela.
Secretary of War Pete Hegseth ordered the carrier and its strike group to join U.S. Southern Command operations. Pentagon spokesperson Sean Parnell said the mission will track and dismantle criminal networks threatening American interests.
The USS Gerald R. Ford, accompanied by five destroyers, is currently stationed in the Mediterranean Sea. Deploying a carrier marks a dramatic escalation of U.S. strength in a region already packed with military presence.
Nighttime Assault Marks New Phase in Anti-Drug War
Before confirming the carrier’s movement, Hegseth announced a tenth strike on a suspected narco-boat. The overnight attack killed six traffickers, bringing total deaths since September to at least 43.
Officials identified the boat as operated by the Tren de Aragua gang, a Venezuelan criminal network now labeled a terrorist organization. Hegseth said the strike occurred in international waters and was the first conducted under night conditions.
He promised to treat drug smugglers like terrorists, declaring, “We will map your networks, track your people, and kill you.”
Maduro Defiant as U.S. Presence Raises Alarm
Washington has linked multiple destroyed vessels to Venezuela, intensifying speculation about an attempt to weaken President Nicolás Maduro’s rule. The U.S. recently flew hypersonic bombers along Venezuela’s coastline, signaling its readiness to act.
Maduro praised his security forces and militias for defense drills covering 2,000 kilometers of coastline. He claimed complete readiness, saying, “Our coastlines are defended in real time with all equipment ready.” On state television, he mocked Trump, repeating, “Not war, just peace—forever.”
Regional experts argue the U.S. military buildup is more political than protective. Elizabeth Dickinson of the International Crisis Group said, “Drugs are the excuse. The message is pressure—comply or face force.”
Hegseth compared the anti-drug campaign to the post-9/11 war on terror. Trump designated cartels as unlawful combatants and declared open conflict against them. When asked if Congress would be involved, he said, “We’re just going to kill the people bringing drugs here—they’ll be dead.”
