The USS Gerald R. Ford Carrier Strike Group has entered the Caribbean Sea, according to the U.S. Navy, positioning the world’s most advanced aircraft carrier at the center of rising regional tensions, CNN reports.
The strike group is joining other U.S. forces already operating in the Caribbean as part of the Trump administration’s effort to “dismantle and defeat criminal networks,” the Navy’s statement said.
The Ford arrived on Tuesday in the wider area of responsibility of U.S. Southern Command, following an order issued by Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth.
The Trump administration has increased its military presence in the region and has carried out lethal strikes against vessels suspected of drug trafficking. Now, the U.S. president is considering an expanded campaign that could include land strikes inside Venezuela or efforts to remove President Nicolás Maduro from power.
Maduro has condemned any U.S. intervention, and other regional leaders have warned of potential destabilization.
