In a significant strategic move, President Donald Trump has redirected the USS Gerald R. Ford, the nation’s most advanced aircraft carrier, from the Mediterranean Sea to South America as part of an intensified campaign against drug cartels. This decision comes at a critical juncture, as a fragile ceasefire between Israel and Hamas in Gaza faces renewed threats. The redeployment leaves the U.S. with only one active carrier deployed globally, marking a stark shift from recent military engagements, including joint strikes with Israel on Iran and intense combat operations against Yemen’s Houthi rebels in the Red Sea. Aircraft carriers, long symbols of U.S. military power, have been a cornerstone of American foreign policy, with five deployments to the Middle East since the October 7, 2023, Hamas-led attack on Israel. The Ford’s new mission underscores the Trump administration’s heightened focus on the Western Hemisphere, escalating firepower in a region already saturated with warships, aircraft, and troops. Trump, speaking from the USS George Washington in Japan, emphasized the U.S. commitment to halting drug trafficking, both at sea and on land. However, experts like Mark Cancian of the Center for Strategic and International Studies question the sustainability of this deployment, given the limited availability of U.S. carriers. Meanwhile, the U.S. military’s growing presence near Venezuela, coupled with 13 fatal strikes on alleged drug boats, has raised concerns about potential regime change efforts against President Nicolás Maduro, who faces U.S. narcoterrorism charges. Secretary of State Marco Rubio defended the operations as counterdrug efforts, while Maduro accused the U.S. of fabricating a war narrative. Analysts warn of potential instability in Venezuela, with some fearing a Libya-style meltdown if Maduro is ousted. The Ford strike group, accompanied by five destroyers, adds to an unprecedented U.S. military buildup in the region, including submarines, fighter jets, and bombers. Trump’s declaration of drug cartels as unlawful combatants has drawn bipartisan scrutiny, with some lawmakers questioning the lack of congressional approval for these operations. Despite concerns, allies like Sen. Lindsey Graham support the president’s actions, suggesting land strikes in Venezuela are a real possibility.
Trump’s decision to send aircraft carrier to South America will leave Mideast and Europe with none
