**U.S. Military Deploys Aircraft Carrier to Waters off South America Amid Escalating Drug-Related Strikes**
*WASHINGTON* — The U.S. military is sending the aircraft carrier USS Gerald R. Ford and its strike group to the waters off South America, the Pentagon announced Friday. This move marks the latest escalation of military firepower in a region where the Trump administration has intensified rapid strikes against boats suspected of carrying drugs.
Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth ordered the deployment to the U.S. Southern Command region with the objective to “bolster U.S. capacity to detect, monitor, and disrupt illicit actors and activities that compromise the safety and prosperity of the United States,” Pentagon spokesman Sean Parnell stated on social media.
### Current Locations and Deployment Details
The USS Gerald R. Ford, accompanied by five destroyers in its strike group, is currently deployed to the Mediterranean Sea. Among its destroyers, one is stationed in the Arabian Sea and another in the Red Sea, according to a source familiar with the operation who spoke anonymously due to the sensitivity of the mission. As of Friday, the carrier was docked in Croatia on the Adriatic Sea.
The source did not specify how long it would take for the strike group to arrive off South America or whether all five destroyers would accompany the carrier.
### A Significant Military Buildup in the Region
Deploying an aircraft carrier represents a significant increase in U.S. military resources in the Caribbean Sea and the waters near Venezuela—where an unusually large U.S. military presence has already been established.
Currently, more than 6,000 sailors and Marines are aboard eight warships in the area. The arrival of the USS Gerald R. Ford strike group could potentially add nearly 4,500 more sailors, along with nine squadrons of aircraft assigned to the carrier.
Compounding the complexity of the situation is Tropical Storm Melissa, which has been nearly stationary in the central Caribbean. Forecasters warn it could soon strengthen into a powerful hurricane, potentially impacting operations.
### Increased Strikes Against Drug-Running Boats
In the hours before the Pentagon announcement, Secretary Hegseth reported the military had executed its 10th strike on a suspected drug-running vessel. The strike, which occurred overnight, resulted in six fatalities and raised the total death count from these attacks, initiated in early September, to at least 43.
Hegseth revealed that the targeted vessel was operated by the Tren de Aragua gang—a notorious criminal organization originating from a Venezuelan prison. This marks the second operation linked by the Trump administration to the gang.
“If you are a narco-terrorist smuggling drugs in our hemisphere, we will treat you like we treat Al-Qaeda,” Hegseth declared on social media. “Day or NIGHT, we will map your networks, track your people, hunt you down, and kill you.”
### Expanding Scope of Operations
The frequency of strikes has increased dramatically, from approximately one every few weeks in early September to three strikes in the most recent week. Two of these recent attacks happened in the eastern Pacific Ocean, broadening the operational area to regions where much of the world’s cocaine—especially from Colombia—is smuggled.
Further escalating tensions, the Trump administration imposed sanctions Friday on Colombian President Gustavo Petro, his family, and a member of his government, alleging their involvement in the global drug trade.
### Focus on Venezuela and Tren de Aragua
Friday’s strike focused on the Tren de Aragua gang, which the Trump administration has designated as a foreign terrorist organization and holds responsible for widespread violence and drug trafficking in several cities.
While the latest boat’s origin was not specified, U.S. officials say at least four vessels targeted so far have originated from Venezuela.
On Thursday, the U.S. military flew supersonic heavy bombers near the Venezuelan coast, signaling continued pressure.
Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro condemned these operations, describing them as efforts to force him from power. He praised Venezuelan security forces and civilian militias for conducting defense exercises along approximately 1,200 miles of coastline, preparing for potential U.S. actions.
“In the span of six hours, 100% of all the country’s coastline was covered in real time, with all equipment and heavy weapons ready to defend all of Venezuela’s coasts if necessary,” Maduro said during a government event broadcast on state television.
### U.S. Military Presence: More Than Just Drugs?
Elizabeth Dickinson, senior analyst for the Andes region at the International Crisis Group, suggested that the military buildup serves a broader strategic message.
“An expression that I’m hearing a lot is ‘Drugs are the excuse.’ And everyone knows that,” Dickinson said. “The message is very clear in regional capitals: the U.S. is intent on pursuing specific objectives and will use military force against leaders and countries that don’t align with U.S. interests.”
### War on Drugs Compared to War on Terror
Secretary Hegseth has increasingly likened the current drug crackdown to the war on terror declared after the September 11, 2001 attacks.
President Donald Trump recently declared drug cartels to be unlawful combatants and confirmed the U.S. is in an “armed conflict” with them, citing the same legal authority used post-9/11.
When asked Thursday if he would seek a formal declaration of war from Congress against drug cartels, Trump replied: “I think we’re just going to kill people that are bringing drugs into our country, OK? We’re going to kill them, you know? They’re going to be like, dead.”
### Congressional Concerns and Political Reactions
Members of both major parties have expressed concern about the administration’s unilateral military actions without Congressional authorization or detailed public information.
Senator Andy Kim (D-N.J.), a former Pentagon and State Department adviser, commented, “I’ve never seen anything quite like this before. We have no idea how far this is going, how this could potentially escalate – whether it will mean boots on the ground or prolonged involvement.”
Conversely, Republican Representative Mario Diaz-Balart of Florida praised the administration’s approach: “It’s about time.” He acknowledged that while President Trump “obviously hates war,” he is willing to use the military in targeted operations. “I would not want to be in the shoes of any of these narco-cartels,” Diaz-Balart said.
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*Associated Press writers Regina Garcia Cano in Caracas, Venezuela, and Ben Finley and Lisa Mascaro in Washington contributed to this report.*
https://www.chicagotribune.com/2025/10/25/us-military-aircraft-carrier-latin-america/