The world’s largest warship, the USS Gerald R. Ford, has arrived off the coast of Latin America. According to the Pentagon, the US Navy strike group — which includes three destroyers and more than 4,000 sailors — entered regional waters on November 11.
Caracas responded by declaring a full military mobilization and launching 48-hour war drills. President Nicolás Maduro condemned the US move as a “provocation,” accusing Washington of preparing a “regime change operation.”
The White House insists the mission targets drug cartels in Latin America. President Trump stated that the US “will take a hard line against narcotics trafficking in the Caribbean,” adding that “Maduro’s days are numbered.”
NEWSRAEL: WHY THIS IS IMPORTANT
This marks a major escalation in tensions between Venezuela and the US, with President Trump signaling a tougher regional posture. The deployment of the Gerald R. Ford — a clear show of force — sends a message not only to Maduro’s regime but also to America’s adversaries in the Western Hemisphere, including Iran and its proxies. Venezuela’s military alert underscores its growing isolation and fear of external intervention as Washington tightens pressure on authoritarian allies in the region.