The Trump administration announced a significant escalation of U.S. military operations in Latin America with the deployment of the USS Gerald R. Ford aircraft carrier group, adding to eight warships, a nuclear submarine, and F-35 fighter jets already in the region. Officials described the move as the most assertive U.S. presence in the Caribbean to date, aimed at disrupting drug trafficking networks.

Pentagon spokesperson Sean Parnell said the deployment will strengthen U.S. capabilities to detect, monitor, and disrupt illicit activities threatening national security in the Western Hemisphere. The Gerald R. Ford, commissioned in 2017, is the world’s largest aircraft carrier, hosting over 75 aircraft and more than 5,000 sailors.

The announcement follows 10 U.S. strikes against alleged drug vessels since early September, which killed around 40 suspected traffickers. Most of the attacks took place in the Caribbean and some involved Venezuelan nationals. U.S. Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth confirmed the latest strike killed six suspected “narco-terrorists” operating a vessel linked to the Tren de Aragua gang, marking the first night-time strike of the campaign.

us caribbean strikes

FILE PHOTO: U.S. Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth speaks to senior military leaders at Marine Corps Base Quantico, in Quantico, Virginia, U.S., September 30, 2025. In an unprecedented gathering, almost 800 generals, admirals and their senior enlisted leaders have been ordered into one location from around the world on short notice. Andrew Harnik/Pool via REUTERS/File Photo

Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro condemned U.S. operations, warning that any intervention could trigger a nationwide insurrection, while Washington has accused Maduro of links to drug trafficking. Meanwhile, tensions with Colombia have risen, with the U.S. imposing sanctions on President Gustavo Petro, whom Trump accused of involvement in drug activities.

The carrier group deployment is accompanied by advanced supporting warships, including Ticonderoga-class cruisers and Arleigh Burke-class destroyers, equipped with missile systems, anti-submarine capabilities, and sophisticated radar. The U.S. also continues to conduct covert operations in Venezuela via the CIA.

Some legal experts and Democratic lawmakers have raised concerns over the strikes’ adherence to international law, although Republican supporters hailed the move as a decisive step to protect U.S. interests in the Western Hemisphere.

With the region increasingly volatile, the Trump administration signals it may extend counter-narcotics operations onto land, briefing Congress on potential next steps. The build-up demonstrates Washington’s willingness to project power across the Caribbean amid ongoing drug-related and geopolitical tensions.