United States Sent a Carrier Strike Group Led by the Aircraft Carrier Gerald R. Ford to Venezuela

Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth ordered the deployment of the twelfth carrier strike group led by the USS Gerald R. Ford (CVN 78), the world’s largest aircraft carrier, to the area of responsibility of the US Southern Command (USSOUTHCOM) to combat “narco-terrorism”.

The US Department of Defense spokesman announced this on X.

“In support of the President’s directive to dismantle Transnational Criminal Organizations (TCOs) and counter narco-terrorism in defense of the Homeland, the Secretary of War has directed the Gerald R. Ford Carrier Strike Group and embarked carrier air wing to the U.S. Southern Command (USSOUTHCOM) area of responsibility (AOR),” the spokesman stated.

USSOUTHCOM’s area of responsibility covers the landmass of Latin America south of Mexico, waters adjacent to Central and South America, and the Caribbean Sea.

This is to “strengthen the ability” of the United States to detect, track, and disrupt illegal activities that “compromise the safety and prosperity of the United States homeland.”

The strike group, in addition to the aircraft carrier, also includes Arleigh Burke-class missile destroyers – USS Mahan, USS Winston S. Churchill, and USS Bainbridge.

“These forces will enhance and augment existing capabilities to disrupt narcotics trafficking and degrade and dismantle transnational criminal organizations,” the spokesman said.

In early October, Donald Trump announced operations against drug cartels on land. And on October 24, it was announced that the 22nd Marine Expeditionary Unit of the United States Marine Corps would conduct joint exercises with the Trinidad and Tobago Defense Force, just a few dozen kilometers off the coast of Venezuela.