The USS Gerald R. Ford entered the Caribbean Sea on Sunday, marking the most significant U.S. military buildup in the region in decades.

The Navy confirmed the carrier strike group’s arrival as it moved through the Anegada Passage near the British Virgin Islands, completing what officials describe as a sweeping deployment under “Operation Southern Spear.” With the aircraft carrier’s entry, roughly 12,000 U.S. personnel and nearly a dozen Navy vessels are now positioned across the Caribbean and eastern Pacific.

Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth and other officials continue to frame the operation as an effort to curb narcotics trafficking, a justification that has accompanied a series of U.S. strikes on small boats since early September. At least 80 people have been killed across roughly 20–21 interdictions, though the administration has offered no public evidence to support claims that those targeted were “narcoterrorists.”

Adm. Alvin Holsey, head of U.S. Southern Command, said the Ford’s deployment underscores Washington’s intent to confront transnational criminal networks, declaring, “Through unwavering commitment and the precise use of our forces, we stand ready to combat the transnational threats that seek to destabilize our region.” He added that the carrier’s arrival represents “a critical step in reinforcing our resolve to protect the security of the Western Hemisphere and the safety of the American Homeland.”

Rear Adm. Paul Lanzilotta, who leads the Ford’s strike group — which includes fighter squadrons and guided-missile destroyers — said the expanded fleet aims to “protect our nation’s security and prosperity against narco-terrorism in the Western Hemisphere.”

The deployment is widely viewed as a pressure tactic aimed at Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro, whom the U.S. government does not recognize as the country’s legitimate leader. Secretary of State Marco Rubio has described Maduro’s regime as a “transshipment organization” for drug traffickers, accusations Maduro has denied while claiming Washington is “fabricating” a pretext for military confrontation.

Venezuela, meanwhile, announced a nationwide military exercise reportedly involving around 200,000 personnel, a move seen as preparation for potential conflict. Maduro and other officials have argued that Washington’s expanding military footprint is intended to force a change in leadership.

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