The Pentagon revealed on Friday that an aircraft carrier is being dispatched by the U.S. military to the South American waters, escalating the military presence in a region where the Trump administration has recently increased rapid strikes on boats suspected of drug trafficking. Defence Secretary Pete Hegseth has directed the USS Gerald R. Ford and its strike group to move to the U.S. Southern Command area to strengthen the U.S. ability to identify, monitor, and disrupt illicit activities that threaten the safety and prosperity of the United States.
The USS Ford, accompanied by five destroyers in its strike group, is currently stationed in the Mediterranean Sea. A destroyer is located in the Arabian Sea, while another is positioned in the Red Sea, as per a source familiar with the operation. Presently, the aircraft carrier is docked in Croatia on the Adriatic Sea. The deployment duration or if all five destroyers will join the journey to South America remains undisclosed by the source, who spoke anonymously due to the sensitive nature of military operations.
The deployment of an aircraft carrier will significantly increase resources in a region witnessing a substantial U.S. military buildup near the Caribbean Sea and off the coast of Venezuela. The recent deployment and the heightened pace of U.S. strikes, which includes one conducted on Friday, have sparked speculations about the extent to which the Trump administration may escalate operations targeting drug trafficking, possibly even aiming to oust Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro, who is facing narcoterrorism charges in the U.S.
With over 6,000 sailors and Marines aboard eight warships in the region, the potential arrival of the entire USS Ford strike group could introduce nearly 4,500 additional sailors and nine aircraft squadrons linked to the carrier. The situation is further complicated by Tropical Storm Melissa, currently stationary in the central Caribbean and forecasted to intensify into a hurricane soon.
Defense Secretary Hegseth announced the 10th strike on a suspected drug-running vessel just before Pentagon spokesperson Parnell made the aircraft carrier deployment public. The recent strike, targeting a boat operated by the Tren de Aragua gang, resulted in six casualties, raising the death toll from attacks initiated in early September to at least 43 individuals. Hegseth emphasized treating narco-terrorists involved in drug smuggling like Al-Qaeda, stating relentless pursuit and elimination.
The frequency of strikes has escalated from one every few weeks to three per week since the operations commenced last month. The military has expanded its target areas, with recent strikes conducted in the eastern Pacific Ocean, where a significant portion of cocaine smuggling occurs from major producers like Colombia. In response to escalating tensions with Colombia, the Trump administration imposed sanctions on Colombian President Gustavo Petro, his family, and a government member over alleged drug trade involvement.
The recent strike, focusing on Tren de Aragua, echoes the initial U.S. operation targeting the gang, designated a foreign terrorist organization, and held responsible for violence and drug-related issues in certain cities. While the origin of the latest vessel was not specified, the administration disclosed that at least four targeted boats originated from Venezuela. Additionally, the U.S. military flew supersonic heavy bombers near the Venezuelan coast on Thursday.
President Maduro accused the U.S. of attempting to remove him from power through these operations, commending security forces and civilian militia for conducting defense exercises along the extensive Venezuelan coastline to prepare for potential U.S. aggression.
Elizabeth Dickinson, the International Crisis Group’s senior analyst for the Andes region, suggested that the U.S. military presence primarily serves to communicate a message of aligning with U.S. interests to regional countries rather than solely focusing on drug-related issues. Dickinson highlighted the notion that “Drugs are the excuse,” indicating that the U.S. intends to utilize military force against leaders and nations not in alignment with its objectives.