US Deploys Gerald Ford Carrier Strike Group to Latin America Amid Venezuela Tensions

President Donald Trump has significantly escalated the U.S. military presence in Latin America by deploying the Gerald R. Ford aircraft carrier strike group to the Caribbean, aiming to intensify efforts against drug trafficking and transnational criminal organizations. This deployment, which includes eight additional warships, a nuclear submarine, and F-35 jets, is the most substantial U.S. military buildup in the region to date and is intended to bolster detection, monitoring, and disruption of illicit activities threatening U.S. security. The move has drawn strong condemnation from Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro, who accuses the U.S. of fabricating conflict and seeking to overthrow his government, while also warning of potential widespread resistance if the U.S. intervenes militarily. The U.S. military campaign has already involved multiple strikes on drug vessels, resulting in about 40 deaths, some of whom were Venezuelan nationals. The deployment reflects heightened tensions not only with Venezuela but also with Colombia, where President Gustavo Petro has been sanctioned by the U.S. for alleged complicity in drug trafficking. Pentagon officials emphasize the campaign's focus on dismantling criminal networks and countering narco-terrorism to protect the Western Hemisphere’s security and prosperity.