The aircraft carrier “USS Gerald R. Ford” arriving in the Caribbean.Image: www.imago-images.de
November 16, 2025, 8:51 p.mNovember 16, 2025, 8:51 p.m
After deadly US military strikes against alleged drug smuggling boats, the world’s largest warship, the US aircraft carrier “USS Gerald R. Ford”, has arrived in the Caribbean. It is joining forces there to dismantle criminal networks, the US Navy said. Venezuela sees the strong military presence of the USA as a threatening gesture. Tensions between countries have increased.
This is how the military justified the relocation of the aircraft carrier
The US military justifies the relocation of the aircraft carrier from the Mediterranean region to the Caribbean on instructions from the Pentagon as follows: The deployment is a decisive step to underline the determination with which the US protects its own security. The aircraft carrier had already reached the large region of the US Southern Command’s operational area days ago. This extends across the Caribbean Sea and waters bordering Central and South America.
US Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth then announced the military operation “Southern Spear”. Hegseth, whom US President Donald Trump’s government has called war minister for some time, did not name specific attacks or locations.
For weeks, the US military has been attacking boats carrying alleged drug smugglers in the Caribbean and the Pacific. The Pentagon confirmed to the German Press Agency that there had already been 20 attacks with a total of 79 deaths by the beginning of the week. The approach has met with international criticism. The United Nations called on the US government to show restraint. Drugs cause major problems in the USA. The US government blames gangs that are said to come from Venezuela for the drug glut.
Speculation about the US government’s intentions
The relocation of the aircraft carrier has fueled speculation about whether the US government is really concerned with the fight against drug smuggling – and not even with a change of power in Venezuela. The Trump administration accuses President Nicolás Maduro of being involved in drug smuggling into the United States. Trump also recently confirmed that he had approved covert operations by the US foreign secret service CIA in Venezuela. (sda/dpa)