USS Gerald Ford enters Caribbean Sea as threat of U.S. action against Venezuela rises

(NPR)- The world’s largest aircraft carrier, the USS Gerald R. Ford, arrived in the Caribbean Sea on Sunday, as tensions with Venezuela grow. The carrier, which has more than 4,000 sailors and dozens of tactical aircraft on board, has joined 15,000 service members already stationed in the region.

“The USS Gerald R. Ford Carrier Strike Group’s deployment represents a critical step in reinforcing our resolve to protect the security of the Western Hemisphere and the safety of the American Homeland,” said Admiral Alvin Holsey, of U.S. Southern Command, in a statement.

Earlier this week, a U.S. military official, who was not authorized to speak publicly, told NPR the “table is being set” for possible military action in the region. Administration officials are continuing to hold high-level meetings with members of Congress and foreign leaders amid ongoing military exercises.

Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth announced Thursday on social media that a “mission” was under way called “Operation Southern Spear.”

“This mission defends our Homeland, removes narco-terrorists from our Hemisphere, and secures our Homeland from the drugs that are killing our people,” he wrote. “The Western Hemisphere is America’s neighborhood and we will protect it.”

It remains unclear, however, if President Trump will use military force against Venezuela. The U.S. has conducted 20 strikes on boats in the region so far, saying they were ferrying drugs trafficked from the country. In August, the U.S. government set a $50 million reward for the arrest of Venezuelan leader Nicolás Maduro.

But officials told NPR that the arrival of the USS Gerald Ford, which was pulled from the Mediterranean Sea, could be just another pressure tactic on Maduro, who has put his own forces on high alert.

On Friday, Trump told reporters aboard Air Force One, “I sort of made up my mind” about whether to launch an attack.

“I can’t tell you what it is,” he said, “but we made a lot of progress with Venezuela in terms of stopping drugs from pouring in.”

“This mission defends our Homeland, removes narco-terrorists from our Hemisphere, and secures our Homeland from the drugs that are killing our people,” he wrote. “The Western Hemisphere is America’s neighborhood and we will protect it.”

The increased activity comes after the high-profile resignation last month of U.S. four-star Adm. Alvin Holsey, who had been overseeing the boat strikes. He abruptly left his post two years early. Pentagon sources told NPR they believe it was because he objected to the assaults on the alleged drug boats, which have so far killed 80 people, and struck boats that did not appear to be showing any immediate hostile intent.