Washington — The Pentagon announced on Friday that the United States is deploying an aircraft carrier strike group to the waters off Latin America. This significant escalation is aimed at increasing the number of service members and naval ships involved in the Trump administration's campaign to combat narcotics traffickers. According to Sean Parnell, a spokesperson for the Pentagon, Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth has ordered the USS Gerald R. Ford Carrier Strike Group along with its embarked carrier air wing to operate within the U.S. Southern Command area of responsibility.
The Southern Command is tasked with overseeing the Caribbean Sea, Central America, South America, and the adjacent waters. Parnell emphasized that the increased U.S. military presence in the region will enhance the country's capability to detect, monitor, and disrupt illicit activities that threaten the safety and prosperity of the United States and its security in the Western Hemisphere.
The USS Gerald R. Ford is the Navy's newest and most advanced aircraft carrier, having been officially commissioned in 2017. Measuring over 1,100 feet in length and boasting a displacement of 100,000 long tons, this carrier holds the title of the largest in the world. It is powered by two nuclear reactors and can reach a remarkable speed of 34.5 mph, showcasing the cutting-edge technology of modern naval warfare as reported by the Navy.
This carrier strike group will join an existing fleet of eight U.S. vessels already present in the region, which includes three destroyers, one cruiser, a littoral combat ship, an amphibious assault ship, and two transport ships. Notably, as of early October, the Ford was previously deployed in the Mediterranean Sea.
The announcement to send the carrier group to Latin America follows a recent U.S. military strike on a vessel believed to be operated by the Venezuelan gang Tren de Aragua, which was reportedly engaged in drug trafficking activities in the Caribbean Sea. Secretary Hegseth confirmed via X that the strike resulted in the deaths of all six individuals on board and occurred in international waters. He stated that this operation marked the first strike conducted at night.
Intelligence indicated that the targeted vessel was involved in illicit narcotics smuggling and was navigating a known narco-trafficking route while carrying illegal drugs. Hegseth shared an unclassified video showing the vessel at the moment it was struck, underscoring the seriousness of the operation.
This latest military strike represents the 10th operation executed by the Trump administration against suspected drug trafficking boats in recent weeks, leading to over 40 fatalities. The initial strikes were primarily focused in the Caribbean Sea, but this week, the administration's efforts have expanded into the Pacific Ocean, reflecting a broader commitment to combating drug trafficking.
