(MENAFN- Gulf Times) The United States' most advanced aircraft carrier, USS Gerald R. Ford, has entered the Caribbean Sea as part of what Washington describes as counter-narcotics operations, amid escalating tensions with Venezuela.
The deployment marks the culmination of one of the largest buildups of US naval power in the region in decades, bringing the total number of American personnel to nearly 12,000 across close to a dozen Navy vessels, under what US Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth has termed "Operation Southern Spear."
According to a statement issued by the US Southern Command, which oversees operations in Latin America and the Caribbean, the Ford carrier strike group -- comprising fighter jet squadrons and guided-missile destroyers -- transited the Anegada Passage near the British Virgin Islands on Sunday.
Rear Adm. Paul Lanzilotta, commander of the Ford strike group, said the deployment would reinforce an already sizable US naval presence "to protect our nation's security and prosperity against narco-terrorism in the Western Hemisphere."
Since last August, Washington has deployed significant military assets to the Caribbean, including six additional warships, claiming the objective is to curb drug trafficking into the United States. In recent weeks, US forces have carried out strikes in international waters against approximately 20 vessels it alleges were involved in smuggling operations, resulting in at least 76 deaths, according to US figures. However, Washington has not presented evidence confirming that the targeted vessels were used for narcotics trafficking.
Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro has accused the United States of using anti-drug operations as a pretext to pursue regime change in Caracas with the aim of exerting control over Venezuela's vast oil resources.
On Tuesday, the Venezuelan military announced it had begun "massive" nationwide deployments in response to what it described as "American imperialism."

MENAFN17112025000067011011ID1110352806