U.S. Moves Major Warship Into Caribbean

The United States has sent its most advanced aircraft carrier, the USS Gerald R. Ford, into the Caribbean in what Washington calls a counterdrug mission, marking the region’s largest show of American force.

An aircraft carrier is not a typical tool for chasing drug boats. It is usually used to pressure governments. And right now, a lot of attention is on Venezuela, whose president, Nicolás Maduro, has been locked in a long conflict with the United States. Maduro says Washington is inventing a crisis to try to remove him from power. His government has begun a large troop mobilisation, saying it is preparing for possible attacks.

The Trump administration says the mission is aimed at stopping drug smugglers. But the size of the force, nearly a dozen warships and around 12,000 personnel, has many wondering if something bigger is happening.

Since September, U.S. strikes on small boats in the region have reportedly killed at least 80 people. Washington has not provided evidence that those killed were linked to drug cartels.

According to CBS News, senior Trump officials met three times this week to weigh military options for Venezuela. Trump offered little detail about the plan, saying only, “I sort of have made up my mind.”