President Donald Trump’s administration has made a significant decision to shift the USS Gerald R. Ford, the nation’s most advanced aircraft carrier, to South America. This move comes as part of the U.S. campaign against drug cartels and involves pulling the carrier out of the Mediterranean Sea, where tensions have escalated due to new strikes in Gaza amid a fragile ceasefire between Israel and Hamas.
Currently, the U.S. will be in a rare situation with only one aircraft carrier deployed and none positioned in European or Middle Eastern waters. This change is particularly notable following the U.S.’s involvement in Israeli strikes on Iran in June and intense combat operations against Houthi rebels in the Red Sea, marking some of the most significant military engagement since World War II.
The newly directed deployment of the USS Gerald R. Ford underlines the Trump administration’s increasing focus on the Western Hemisphere, representing a substantial escalation in military operations against drug trafficking. The USS Gerald R. Ford’s deployment is accompanied by a buildup of warships, aircraft, and troops, suggesting that further military actions may be forthcoming. Trump has indicated an intention to inhibit drug trafficking by declaring, “now we’ll stop the drugs coming in by land,” during remarks from another aircraft carrier, the USS George Washington, based in Japan.
Experts are raising concerns regarding how long the USS Gerald R. Ford can remain in South America given that only three of the eleven U.S. aircraft carriers are typically at sea. Mark Cancian, a senior adviser at the Center for Strategic and International Studies, noted that the Ford’s capabilities and positioning could be under pressure to shift back to regions facing escalating tensions, such as the eastern Mediterranean or Iran.
Additionally, the USS Nimitz is currently on its way home from the South China Sea to the West Coast before its decommissioning. The carrier lost two aircraft in recent accidents—an investigation is underway. The USS Theodore Roosevelt, while not deployed, is currently conducting exercises off San Diego.
The carrier’s relocation is occurring amidst renewed violence in Gaza, with the Israeli army intensifying its attacks just weeks into a ceasefire established primarily through Trump’s intervention after two years of conflict.
The military’s presence near Venezuela, intensified by its 13 recent strikes against alleged drug vessels, has raised speculation about potential actions against Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro, who has been labeled a narcoterrorist by the U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio emphasized that the U.S. is committed to a counterdrug operation and accused Maduro’s administration of involvement in narcotics trafficking. Maduro, in response, has claimed that the Trump administration is fabricating a narrative of war against him to justify military action.
Experts have warned that while U.S. forces in the region do not appear substantial enough to initiate an invasion, they could destabilize Maduro’s regime, possibly leading to a chaotic scenario similar to a Libya-style collapse.
The deployment of the Ford strike group, which includes five destroyers, is set to reinforce the U.S. military build-up in Venezuelan waters. Currently, there are eight U.S. Navy warships operating off Venezuela’s coast. Moreover, the U.S. has positioned a squadron of F-35B Lightning II fighter jets in Puerto Rico, supplemented by recent aerial operations involving heavy bombers along the Venezuelan coastline.
The administration has reported the loss of at least 57 lives in anti-drug operations, equating drug cartels to unlawful combatants, while employing legal justifications reminiscent of post-9/11 engagements. Concerns have been voiced by bipartisan lawmakers regarding Trump’s unilateral military actions without congressional approval, despite some support from allies who argue that the president possesses the authority required for these operations. Senator Lindsey Graham noted on CBS’ “Face the Nation” that land strikes in Venezuela may be a viable option, emphasizing the U.S.’s commitment to combating drug trafficking.
