The Pentagon has deployed the USS Gerald R. Ford, the world’s largest aircraft carrier, to the Caribbean as part of President Donald Trump’s expanding military campaign against alleged drug traffickers. The move follows a series of U.S. strikes on vessels accused of smuggling narcotics near Venezuela and in the Eastern Pacific.
Pentagon spokesperson Sean Parnell said Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth ordered the carrier to the region to “dismantle Transnational Criminal Organizations” and support U.S. Southern Command operations. “These forces will enhance and augment existing capabilities to disrupt narcotics trafficking and degrade TCOs,” Parnell stated.
Recent strikes have killed at least 43 people identified by U.S. officials as “narco-terrorists.” The most recent operation targeted a vessel linked to Venezuela’s Tren de Aragua gang, killing six. No U.S. service members were injured.
Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro urged calm Thursday, warning against a “crazy war.” The administration has also confirmed CIA involvement in covert operations in Venezuela and increased its regional presence with 10,000 U.S. forces, warships, and a nuclear-powered submarine.
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