The Pentagon announced on Friday that a U.S. aircraft carrier will be deployed to the waters off South America, as part of increased military presence in the region to combat drug trafficking. Defence Secretary Pete Hegseth ordered the USS Gerald R. Ford and its strike group to the U.S. Southern Command area to enhance the ability to detect and disrupt illicit activities that threaten the safety and well-being of the United States.
Currently, the USS Ford, accompanied by five destroyers, is stationed in the Mediterranean Sea. One destroyer is in the Arabian Sea, another in the Red Sea, and the aircraft carrier itself is docked in Croatia. The exact timeline for the strike group’s arrival in South America remains undisclosed.
The escalating military buildup, including the recent deployment of over 6,000 sailors and Marines on eight warships, indicates a significant reinforcement in the Caribbean Sea and near Venezuela. This move has sparked speculation about the potential objectives of the Trump administration, particularly concerning the possibility of targeting Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro, who is facing narcoterrorism charges in the U.S.
Amidst these developments, Tropical Storm Melissa looms in the central Caribbean, potentially intensifying into a hurricane. The military operations have seen a series of strikes on suspected drug-carrying vessels, with the latest strike, the 10th since early September, resulting in casualties linked to the Tren de Aragua gang.
These targeted actions, now occurring more frequently, reflect a shift towards combating drug trafficking in the eastern Pacific Ocean, where a significant amount of cocaine originates. Notably, the Trump administration has expanded its focus to include the Tren de Aragua gang, designated as a foreign terrorist organization.
In response to the escalating tensions, the U.S. has imposed sanctions on Colombian President Gustavo Petro and his associates for alleged involvement in the global drug trade. The ongoing military maneuvers have raised concerns in Venezuela, where President Maduro perceives them as attempts to destabilize his regime.
The U.S. military’s presence in the region, although ostensibly focused on drug interdiction, is viewed by analysts as a broader strategy to assert U.S. influence and compel regional alignment with American interests. Elizabeth Dickinson from the International Crisis Group suggests that the drug-related rationale may serve as a pretext for pursuing broader geopolitical goals in the region.
