The US's newest aircraft carrier, the world's largest, arrived in the Caribbean Sea on Monday, demonstrating US military might and raising questions about what the new influx of troops and weapons could mean for the Trump administration's campaign against drug trafficking in South America, the Associated Press reported.
The arrival of the USS Gerald Ford marks a major milestone in the US "counter-narcotics operation" that has yet to provide evidence to support its claims. Since early September, U.S. strikes on small boats suspected of being used for drug trafficking have killed at least 80 people in 20 attacks.
The Gerald Ford adds to the largest buildup of U.S. military power in the region in generations, bringing the total number of troops there to about 12,000, as well as nearly a dozen Navy ships. Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth has dubbed the operation Operation Southern Spear. Rear Admiral Paul Lanzillotta, who commands the Ford's strike group, said: , said they would bolster the already large force of American warships to "protect the security and prosperity of our nation from narco-terrorism in the Western Hemisphere".
The United States has long used aircraft carriers to exert pressure and deter aggression by other countries, as its warplanes can strike targets deep inside another country. Some experts say the "Ford" is not suited to fighting cartels, but could be an effective tool to intimidate Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro into stepping down.
Trump justified the attacks on drug ships by saying the United States was in an "armed conflict" with drug cartels and claims that the ships are run by foreign terrorist organizations.
Secretary of State Marco Rubio said the United States does not recognize Maduro, who has been widely accused of rigging last year's election. Rubio called the Venezuelan government a "transit organization" that openly collaborates with drug traffickers.
Maduro, who has been accused of narcoterrorism by the United States, has accused the U.S. government of "fabricating" a war against him. The Venezuelan government recently announced a "massive" mobilization of troops and civilians to protect against possible U.S. attacks.