The United States is sending the world’s largest warship, the USS Gerald R. Ford, to the Caribbean in a significant escalation of its campaign against drug trafficking in the region.
Defence Secretary Pete Hegseth ordered the nuclear-powered aircraft carrier, capable of carrying up to 90 aircraft, to move from the Mediterranean to Latin American waters on Friday. The deployment adds to the growing US military presence in the Caribbean, which already includes eight warships, a nuclear submarine, and F-35 fighter jets.
According to Hegseth, US forces recently carried out airstrikes targeting boats linked to drug traffickers. One such strike on Friday destroyed a vessel allegedly operated by the Tren de Aragua criminal group, killing six men described as “narco-terrorists.” He shared footage of the operation on X, showing the moment the targeted boat exploded after being hit.
The Pentagon confirmed that the USS Gerald R. Ford will now operate under the US Southern Command, covering Central and South America as well as the Caribbean. Pentagon spokesperson Sean Parnell said the additional forces will “enhance existing capabilities to disrupt narcotics trafficking and dismantle transnational criminal organisations.
Also Read:
China Has Discovered that Trump’s Pain Point is Rare Earths
Professor Paul Robert Vogt: A Global Mission to Transform Heart Surgery
