Pentagon deploys top aircraft carrier as Trump militarisation of Caribbean ratchets up

The Pentagon announced on Friday it would be deploying to the Caribbean the United States’ most advanced aircraft carrier, an important escalation of the Trump administration’s war against the drug cartels. This will provide the resources needed to begin conducting strikes on targets on the ground.

As it nears its end in the Mediterranean, the USS Gerald Ford will be moving to the coasts of Venezuela with dozens stealth fighters and surveillance planes, as well as other warships.

The administration’s decision to send the carrier strike group into the Caribbean is a clear indication that it intends to expand its deadly military campaign beyond small boats suspected of carrying drugs to the US and to land targets.

The supercarrier is equipped with dozens of F-18 Super Hornet aircraft that can increase offensive firepower for the US and their ability to attack air defense systems in Venezuela. Current and former officials have said that this would allow US drones or special operations to attack land-based targets.

In a press release, Sean Parnell from the Pentagon said that the expanded naval presence would “improve US capability to detect, monitor and disrupt illicit actors or activities which compromise the safety, prosperity and security of the United States Homeland and our security in Western Hemisphere”.

Nicolas Maduro, from Caracas criticized the increased US military presence. The Venezuelan President told the state-run media that “they promised they wouldn’t get involved in another war and are fabricating one”, later on Friday.

After a first campaign that saw strikes against at least nine alleged drugs-trafficking vessels, the Trump administration is now looking to escalate its campaign.

Donald Trump confirmed to reporters in the White House Thursday that his next military campaign will include hitting targets on the ground. Trump stated that the land would be next. “The land drugs is much more dangerous for them.” It will be more dangerous. “You’ll see that soon.”

Trump didn’t discuss the specific countries or targets that the US would be attacking. He did, however, direct Pete Hegseth (the defense secretary who was sitting next to him at the White House’s event on curbing illegal drug flows into the US) to inform Congress of the plans.

When asked if he would declare a war on the cartels Trump said he’d continue to use individual strikes. He said, “I believe we will just kill those who are bringing drugs to our country.” “We’re gonna kill them. You know, they’re gonna be dead.”

Trump released a short video showing what appeared to be the first attack on a boat, on 3 September. In the weeks following, the administration announced additional strikes without disclosing any details other than the death toll and the claim that these boats were carrying drugs.

The Guardian reported that since the beginning of the military campaign the administration has given a questionable legal justification, claiming that the boats were affiliated with “designated terror organisations”, or DTOs. With these DTOs the US is now engaged in a non-international armed war.

The administration has not provided any concrete evidence that the victims of the boat attacks were smuggling drugs into the US. Pentagon officials told Congress that the boats were legitimate targets, because Trump had declared them assets of cartels deemed to be DTOs.

Central Intelligence Agency has been involved in the military campaign. Trump confirmed that he had approved the so-called “covert actions” of the CIA. The Guardian reported that a large portion of intelligence used for the airstrikes came from the CIA.

Source:https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2025/oct/24/trump-caribbean-uss-gerald-ford-carrier

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