U.S. Expands Military Presence in Latin America Amid Rising Tensions with Venezuela
In a major escalation of its pressure campaign against Venezuela, U.S. Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth has ordered the deployment of the aircraft carrier USS Gerald R. Ford along with four Arleigh Burke-class destroyers—USS Winston S. Churchill, USS Bainbridge, USS Mahan, and USS Forrest Sherman—and possibly an attack submarine to the Latin American region.
The U.S. has recently stationed around 10,000 military personnel in the Caribbean. With the arrival of the Gerald R. Ford Carrier Strike Group, an additional 4,500 troops will be added. The carrier is currently in the Mediterranean Sea and is expected to reach Latin America within a week.
The U.S. military has already conducted several airstrikes against vessels in the Caribbean Sea, resulting in at least 43 fatalities.
While President Trump claims the deployments are aimed at combating drug trafficking, the scale and nature of the military buildup suggest broader strategic objectives. Last week, Trump confirmed that the CIA has been authorized to conduct covert operations inside Venezuela targeting the Maduro government, and he stated that ground operations are under consideration.
The likelihood of direct military conflict in Venezuela now appears higher than ever.
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