The United States plans to deploy its largest aircraft carrier and a substantial naval contingent to the Caribbean in late 2025 for anti-drug operations, a move observers say carries a thinly veiled warning to Venezuela’s government.
The USS Gerald R. Ford, described as the world’s largest warship, is set to lead the deployment from the Mediterranean Sea. It will be accompanied by eight other warships, a nuclear submarine, and an F-35 fighter squadron.
The U.S. Defense Department confirmed the USS Gerald R. Ford will operate under the U.S. Southern Command. Its mission is to intercept and dismantle transnational criminal networks across Central America, South America, and the Caribbean.
The planned deployment follows a period of escalating U.S. military involvement in the region. U.S. forces have already launched aerial attacks on vessels suspected of drug trafficking in the Caribbean.
Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth reported that a recent operation resulted in the deaths of six drug traffickers. They were aboard a suspicious vessel linked to the Tren de Aragua criminal network, which is known to operate from Venezuela.
This latest operation marks the tenth such attack by the Trump administration against drug trafficking vessels since early September, leading to at least 43 fatalities. President Trump maintains these actions are within his legal authority.
However, the military operations have drawn significant criticism regarding their legal justification. Analysts suggest that the Trump administration’s actions may have a dual purpose.
Many believe the operations are designed to intimidate and destabilize the government of Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro. Maduro has long been a key political adversary of the United States.
U.S. media have also reported that President Trump is considering ground operations within Venezuela. These potential actions would target drug routes and cocaine production sites, though no final decision has been announced.