The United States has dispatched its aircraft carrier USS Gerald R. Ford to Venezuelan waters, signalling a potential military operation beyond anti‑smuggling efforts.
Fleet Composition and Capabilities
An aircraft carrier can launch roughly 75 aircraft and helicopters, far surpassing the capacity of the entire Venezuelan military. The carrier is escorted by ships capable of firing dozens of Tomahawk missiles, creating a force that could dominate Venezuelan airspace and bomb selected targets once authorized by the White House.
Deployment Timeline and Current Position
USS Gerald R. Ford received orders to head to Venezuela in late October. While stationed off Croatia’s coast in the Adriatic, it crossed the Strait of Gibraltar into the Atlantic in early November, circumnavigated Morocco, and resumed its transit, reaching the US Southern Command on November 11. The carrier sails with three destroyers, a nuclear submarine, and a replenishment ship.
Regional Force Presence in the Caribbean
Three large amphibious assault ships, carrying an expeditionary Marine Corps force of about 2,500, a cruiser, two destroyers, and supply vessels, operate in the Caribbean. Puerto Rico hosts a Marine Corps F‑35 division, reconnaissance and patrol aircraft, drones, and undisclosed special‑forces units. Frequent C‑17 transports have flown to the island, indicating extensive logistical preparation for a potential operation.
Strategic Military Objectives
US strategic air power—including bombers, reconnaissance aircraft, and tankers—can strike Venezuela from US bases at any time. If Trump opts for action, the U.S. military is poised to control Venezuelan airspace and territorial waters and inflict significant ground damage, while a land invasion appears unplanned due to the lack of nearby forces. Instead, Marines and special forces could conduct targeted raids against regime objectives.
Political Context and Diplomatic Alternatives
White‑House policy regards all current Caribbean operations as part of a “war on drug cartels,” with air strikes against suspected smuggling vessels causing significant casualties. Controversy has prompted Britain and the Netherlands to halt intelligence sharing on illicit voyages. The carrier’s presence signals a more serious U.S. intent, presenting two options: a forceful approach championed by Secretary of State Marco Rubio, or a diplomatic route led by special envoy Richard Grenell, who has met Maduro representatives twice this year. Both aim for the same outcome: removal of the socialist ruler and installation of a U.S.‑friendly opposition, restoring Washington’s influence over Venezuela’s vast resources and large market.
