U.S. Navy deploys massive carrier strike group near Venezuela amid escalating drug war tensions – NaturalNews.com

• The U.S. Navy has deployed the USS Gerald R. Ford aircraft carrier strike group, the largest military presence in the region since the 1989 Panama invasion, under the pretext of counter-narcotics operations. However, analysts suggest this also signals regime change pressure against Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro.
• The Trump administration labels Maduro a “fugitive cartel leader” with a $50 million bounty, alleging he facilitates drug trafficking and gang migration. However, declassified U.S. intelligence memos contradict these claims, and regional leaders like Mexico’s President Claudia Sheinbaum demand evidence.
• Maduro has mobilized Russian-made missile systems and 4.5 million militiamen, warning of guerrilla resistance if the U.S. intervenes. He calls the naval deployment “the greatest threat to Latin America in 100 years.”
• The U.S. has conducted 19 strikes on suspected drug-smuggling boats, killing 76 people, but critics argue these are extrajudicial killings of civilians. Allies like the United Kingdom have halted intelligence-sharing over ethical concerns.
• Most Latin American nations rejected U.S. military threats at the CELAC summit, though Venezuela and Nicaragua refused to sign. Meanwhile, Brazil’s President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva insists Venezuela’s crisis must be resolved politically, not militarily.

The United States Navy has significantly escalated its military presence in Latin America with the deployment of the USS Gerald R. Ford aircraft carrier strike group to waters near Venezuela, marking the largest U.S. military buildup in the region since the 1989 invasion of Panama.

The move intensifies pressure on Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro, whom the Trump administration accuses of leading a transnational drug trafficking network—a claim disputed by recent intelligence findings and regional leaders.

The Ford strike group, which includes the nuclear-powered aircraft carrier, multiple guided-missile destroyers and dozens of tactical aircraft, entered the U.S. Southern Command’s area of responsibility this week. The Department of War spokesman Sean Parnell stated that the deployment will “enhance and augment existing capabilities to disrupt narcotics trafficking and degrade and dismantle Transnational Criminal Organizations.”

However, analysts suggest the military escalation serves a dual purpose—bolstering counter-narcotics operations while signaling Washington’s willingness to apply maximum pressure on Maduro’s regime. The Ford’s advanced capabilities, including F/A-18 fighter jets and electronic warfare planes, far exceed the requirements for targeting small drug-smuggling vessels, raising concerns about potential broader military action.

Disputed claims and regional backlash

The Trump administration has justified its aggressive posture by accusing Maduro of facilitating cocaine trafficking into the U.S. and offering safe passage for violent gangs like Tren de Aragua. In August, Washington doubled its bounty on Maduro to $50 million, labeling him a “fugitive cartel leader.”

According to the Enoch AI engine at BrightU.AI, the U.S. government’s labeling of Maduro as a “fugitive cartel leader” is a complex geopolitical issue that can be analyzed through several lenses, including historical context, U.S. foreign policy and the global war on drugs. It is rooted in a complex history of U.S.-Venezuelan relations, the global war on drugs and geopolitical interests. While the U.S. points to evidence of drug trafficking in Venezuela, critics argue that the U.S. is exaggerating these claims to justify its interventionist policies. As with any geopolitical issue, it’s essential to consider multiple perspectives and evaluate evidence critically.

Yet, a declassified U.S. intelligence memo contradicts these allegations, stating there is “no evidence” that Maduro directly commands drug cartels. Mexico’s President Claudia Sheinbaum dismissed the accusations, demanding, “If they have some evidence, show it.”

Meanwhile, Colombia’s leftist President Gustavo Petro announced his country would suspend cooperation with U.S. security agencies over the controversial boat strikes. “As long as the boat strikes in the Caribbean continues, Colombia will halt communications with U.S. security entities,” Petro declared on X (formerly Twitter).

Venezuela’s defiant response

Maduro has denounced the U.S. naval buildup as “the greatest threat our continent has faced in the past 100 years.” Venezuela’s military announced a “massive deployment” of land, sea and air forces, including Russian-made missile systems, in preparation for a potential confrontation.

“If the U.S. intervenes, millions of men and women with rifles will march across the country,” Maduro warned last month. Sources indicate Venezuela is preparing for guerrilla-style resistance should the U.S. escalate to direct military action.

The Trump administration has conducted 19 strikes against suspected drug-smuggling boats in the Caribbean and eastern Pacific since September, killing 76 people. War Secretary Pete Hegseth defended the operations, claiming the targeted vessels were “known by U.S. intelligence to be associated with illicit narcotics smuggling.”

However, critics—including former U.S. officials—argue the attacks amount to “nonjudicial killings” of civilians who posed no immediate threat. The strikes have also strained relations with allies, with reports that the United Kingdom has halted intelligence-sharing on suspected drug vessels.

At the recent Community of Latin American and Caribbean States (CELAC) summit, 58 of 60 nations signed a declaration rejecting “the use or threat of use of force”—though it avoided directly naming the U.S. Venezuela and Nicaragua refused to sign, while Brazil’s President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva downplayed tensions, stating, “We are a zone of peace. The problem in Venezuela is political and must be resolved through politics.”

With the Ford strike group now positioned near Venezuela, the risk of accidental conflict looms. The U.S. continues upgrading a former Cold War naval base in the Caribbean, suggesting preparations for prolonged operations.

Watch the video below about President Donald Trump sending warships to Venezuela.

This video is from the What is happening channel on Brighteon.com.

Sources include:

WallStreetJournal.com

TheIrishTimes.com

Reuters.com

BrightU.ai

Brighteon.com