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The Supercarrier's Caribbean Turn

Washington's Major Escalation in the War on Narco-Terrorism

Saturday, 25 October 2025 08:06

Abstract

The United States has deployed the USS Gerald R. Ford Carrier Strike Group to the waters off Latin America, marking a significant and unprecedented escalation in its military campaign against transnational criminal organisations. The move, which redirects the world's largest warship from the Mediterranean, has been framed by Washington as a necessary step to counter drug trafficking and narco-terrorism in the Western Hemisphere. However, the deployment has drawn immediate and sharp condemnation from Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro, who accused the US of attempting to 'fabricate a war' and destabilise his government.

Historical Context

Recent Findings

The Arrival of the World's Largest Warship

The Pentagon announced on Friday, 24 October 2025, that the USS Gerald R. Ford Carrier Strike Group (CSG) had been directed to the US Southern Command (USSOUTHCOM) area of responsibility. This vast operational zone encompasses the Caribbean Sea, Central America, and South America. The deployment of the USS Gerald R. Ford (CVN 78), the world’s largest and newest aircraft carrier, represents a major and highly visible escalation of American military power in a region that has historically seen a lower profile for such high-value assets. The carrier, which was nearing the end of a deployment in the Mediterranean, was ordered to move by US Defence Secretary Pete Hegseth. The full Carrier Strike Group 12 includes the nuclear-powered supercarrier, which is capable of carrying up to 90 aircraft, along with the guided-missile destroyers USS Mahan (DDG 72), USS Winston S. Churchill (DDG 81), and USS Bainbridge (DDG 96). The embarked Carrier Air Wing 8 (CVW-8) includes four squadrons of Boeing F/A-18E/F strike fighters and a single electronic-attack squadron of Boeing EA-18G Growlers. The redirection of this formidable naval force is a significant military move that analysts suggest often precedes larger operations.

A New Doctrine of Force

The official justification for the deployment, according to the Pentagon, is to support the President’s directive to ‘dismantle Transnational Criminal Organizations (TCOs) and counter narco-terrorism in defense of the Homeland’. Pentagon spokesperson Sean Parnell stated that the enhanced US force presence in the USSOUTHCOM AOR would ‘bolster U.S. capacity to detect, monitor, and disrupt illicit actors and activities’. The deployment is the latest and most dramatic step in a military campaign that began in early September. This campaign has seen the US military adopt a more aggressive posture, moving beyond traditional Coast Guard interdiction methods, which President Donald Trump had previously dismissed as ‘totally ineffective’. The new approach has involved a series of lethal airstrikes against vessels alleged to be carrying narcotics. As of the announcement, US forces had conducted 10 strikes, resulting in the destruction of at least 10 vessels, including nine boats and one semi-submersible. These operations have killed at least 43 people, according to an AFP tally based on US figures. The most recent strike, which occurred on Friday, killed six people described by Secretary of War Pete Hegseth as ‘male narco-terrorists’ linked to the Venezuelan criminal network Tren de Aragua. Secretary Hegseth has publicly stated that the US will treat narco-terrorists ‘like we treat Al-Qaeda’, vowing to ‘hunt you down, and kill you’.

The Anatomy of an Escalation

The arrival of the USS Gerald R. Ford CSG significantly increases the offensive firepower available to US Southern Command. The supercarrier’s air wing, which includes dozens of F/A-18 Super Hornet jets, provides the capability to conduct strikes against targets on land. This capability is a key factor in the escalation, as the campaign has already expanded from the Caribbean into the Eastern Pacific Ocean. The F/A-18s and F-35Cs, while not ideally suited for the slow-speed surveillance required for counter-drug search operations, are superbly suited for air attacks. The strike group’s destroyers, including the USS Mahan, carry Vertical Launch System (VLS) cells. With over 700 VLS cells across the naval forces in the region, an estimated 180 Tomahawk missiles could be available for land attack against either cartel facilities or the Maduro regime. The carrier group joins an already substantial US military buildup in the region. This existing force includes eight US Navy ships, a nuclear submarine, and 10 F-35 stealth warplanes deployed to Puerto Rico. Furthermore, the US has conducted shows of force with B-52 bombers and B-1B supersonic bombers flying near the Venezuelan coast. The total US force presence in the region, including Marines and Navy personnel, is estimated to be over 6,000 troops. The Pentagon has also told Congress that the US is in ‘armed conflict’ with Latin American drug cartels, a designation that critics argue is used to justify the use of lethal military force without a formal declaration of war.

Caracas's Accusation of War

The deployment immediately drew a furious response from Caracas, where President Nicolás Maduro accused the US of a deliberate act of provocation. Speaking on state television late on Friday, the Venezuelan leader claimed the Trump administration was instigating ‘a new eternal war’. Maduro stated, ‘They promised they would never again get involved in a war, and they are fabricating a war that we are going to prevent’. The Venezuelan government has long been a target of the US administration, which has accused Maduro of leading a drug-trafficking organisation and has offered a $50 million reward for information leading to his capture. In response to the heightened military pressure, Maduro has ordered defensive exercises nationwide and positioned soldiers at the borders. He also claimed earlier in the week that Venezuela possesses 5,000 Russian man-portable surface-to-air missiles to counter US forces. Thousands of Venezuelans have also joined a civilian militia in response to the call to bolster the country’s defences. The US actions have also created diplomatic friction with other regional players, including Colombia, whose President Gustavo Petro was sanctioned by Washington on Friday for allegedly allowing drug trafficking to flourish. Brazil, a regional powerhouse, has also expressed concern, with a senior foreign policy advisor telling AFP that a military intervention in Venezuela is unacceptable and could destabilise South America.

The Geopolitical Signal

For many analysts, the deployment of the USS Gerald R. Ford is less about counter-narcotics and more about political signalling and regime change. Dr Christopher Sabatini, a senior fellow for Latin America at Chatham House, suggested that the military show of force was likely intended to ‘strike fear’ within Venezuela’s military and Maduro’s inner circle, hoping they would move against him. The sheer scale of the deployment, which includes the world’s largest warship, is disproportionate to the stated mission of interdicting small drug-smuggling vessels. Aircraft carriers are considered poorly suited for the surveillance tasks required for stopping drug smugglers. The move is seen as a clear indication that the Trump administration is prepared to expand the scope of its lethal military campaign from hitting small boats to targeting land-based infrastructure. President Trump has indicated that land-based operations against cartels would be next, though he has not elaborated on the specifics. The administration has also confirmed that it authorised the CIA to engage in covert operations against the Venezuelan government. The deployment of the Ford, which had been in the Mediterranean for exercises and to respond to potential hostilities around Israel, Gaza, and the Red Sea, underscores the high priority Washington has placed on the situation in the Caribbean. The decision to move such a major element of US combat power, one of only 11 aircraft carriers in the Navy, from a theatre of active conflict to the USSOUTHCOM AOR is a powerful geopolitical statement.

Conclusion

The deployment of the USS Gerald R. Ford Carrier Strike Group to the Caribbean represents a watershed moment in the US campaign against drug trafficking and a significant escalation of military pressure on the Venezuelan regime. While the Pentagon maintains the mission is strictly focused on dismantling transnational criminal organisations and countering narco-terrorism, the sheer magnitude of the force, coupled with the administration’s rhetoric and the history of lethal strikes, suggests a broader strategic objective. The move has transformed the Caribbean from a low-visibility region for major naval assets into a flashpoint of international tension. The accusations from President Maduro of the US ‘fabricating a war’ reflect the deep-seated fear in Caracas that the counter-narcotics mission is a pretext for regime change. As the world’s largest warship sails toward the coast of South America, the possibility of the campaign expanding to land-based targets remains a clear and present danger, raising profound questions about the legality of the strikes and the future stability of the Western Hemisphere.

References

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    Supports the date of the announcement, the carrier's previous location (Mediterranean), the stated mission, the escalation context, and President Maduro's quote about 'fabricating a war'.

  3. U.S. Deploys "World's Biggest" Aircraft Carrier, Gerald R Ford To Caribbean To "Shake-Up" Venezuela?

    Provides Maduro's quote about 'a new eternal war' and 'fabricating a war', and includes the concern from Brazil's senior foreign policy advisor.

  4. Pentagon Sends Ford Carrier Strike Group to Caribbean as U.S. Expands Military Campaign Against Cartels

    Details the composition of the CSG (USS Gerald R. Ford, USS Mahan, USS Winston S. Churchill, USS Bainbridge), the stated mission (TCOs, narco-terrorism), the names of the Pentagon spokesperson (Sean Parnell) and Secretary of War (Pete Hegseth), the number of people killed in the latest strike (six), and the link to the Tren de Aragua criminal organisation. Also supports the quote about treating narco-terrorists like Al-Qaeda.

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    Confirms the USS Gerald R. Ford is the world's largest warship, the date of the order (Friday), and Maduro's 'fabricating a war' quote.

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    Supports the carrier's capacity (up to 90 planes), the name of the Defence Secretary (Pete Hegseth), the 'fabricating a war' quote, and the analysis from Dr Christopher Sabatini of Chatham House regarding 'regime change' and 'signalling'.

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    Confirms the carrier's capacity (up to 90 aircraft), the name of the Defence Secretary (Pete Hegseth), the 'fabricating a war' quote, the US Southern Command AOR, the number of strikes (ten), and the analysis from Dr Christopher Sabatini about 'strike fear' and 'regime change'.

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    Provides details on the Carrier Strike Group 12 composition, including the destroyers USS Bainbridge and USS Mahan, and the Carrier Air Wing 8 (F/A-18 fighters and E/A-18G strike fighters). Also supports the total troop count (more than 6,000).

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    Offers geopolitical analysis, noting the carrier's poor suitability for counter-drug surveillance but excellent suitability for air attacks. Provides details on the VLS cells, the estimated 180 Tomahawk missiles, the carrier's previous deployment (Israel, Gaza, Red Sea), and the total number of US Navy aircraft carriers (11).

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    Confirms the deployment is a 'show of force far beyond any past counter-narcotics effort,' the carrier's status as the world's largest, the number of sailors (more than 5,000), the number of strikes (10), the death toll (about 40 people), and the $50 million reward for Maduro.

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    Confirms the date of the order (24 October), the USS Gerald R. Ford's status as the newest and largest carrier, the composition of Carrier Air Wing 8 (F/A-18E/F and EA-18Gs), and the B-1B bomber overflight near the Venezuelan coast.