WASHINGTON (FN) — President Donald Trump has ordered the deployment of the USS Gerald R. Ford aircraft carrier strike group to Latin America, intensifying a military campaign aimed at countering drug trafficking in the region. The move marks a significant escalation in U.S. force presence and has sparked fears of a broader conflict, particularly in Venezuela.
The Pentagon said the deployment, which includes eight Navy ships and 10 F-35 stealth warplanes, is intended to “disrupt narcotics trafficking and dismantle transnational criminal organizations.” The announcement followed a U.S. strike on a boat allegedly operated by Venezuela’s Tren de Aragua gang, killing six people in the Caribbean Sea.
Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth defended the operation, stating, “If you are a narco-terrorist smuggling drugs in our hemisphere, we will treat you like we treat Al-Qaeda.” He added that the U.S. would continue to “map, track, and eliminate” drug networks operating in the region.
The campaign, which began in early September, has resulted in at least 43 deaths, according to U.S. figures. However, Washington has yet to provide evidence that the targets were actively smuggling narcotics.
Human rights advocates have raised concerns about the legality of the strikes. “Under international human rights law, the intentional use of lethal force is only permissible as a measure of last resort against an individual representing an imminent threat to life,” said Marta Hurtado Gomez, spokesperson for the UN rights office. “Otherwise, it would constitute a violation of the right to life.”
Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro accused the United States of using anti-narcotics operations as a pretext for regime change. “We are prepared to defend our sovereignty,” Maduro said, claiming Venezuela has 5,000 Russian-made surface-to-air missiles ready to counter any U.S. incursion.
Regional leaders have also voiced alarm. Celso Amorim, foreign policy adviser to Brazilian President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva, warned that a U.S. military intervention in Venezuela would be “unacceptable” and could destabilize the entire continent. “It could inflame South America and lead to radicalization of politics on the whole continent,” he said.
Flight tracking data showed a U.S. B-1B bomber flying over the Caribbean near Venezuela on Thursday, following a similar show of force last week involving B-52 bombers.
Despite the growing tensions, President Trump remained defiant. “The land is going to be next,” he said Thursday, suggesting that strikes on Venezuelan territory could follow. He also dismissed the need for congressional approval, comparing drug cartels to the Islamic State group.
As the situation unfolds, international observers warn that the deployment risks triggering a broader geopolitical crisis in the region.
