After the US military’s deadly attack on a suspected drug smuggling ship, the world’s largest warship, the US aircraft carrier “USS Gerald R. Ford”, has arrived in the Caribbean. They joined forces there to dismantle a criminal network, the US Navy said. Venezuela sees America’s strong military presence as a threat. Tensions between countries are increasing.
That is the military’s reason to justify the relocation of the aircraft carrier
The US military justified the relocation of the aircraft carrier from the Mediterranean region to the Caribbean based on Pentagon instructions as follows: The deployment is a firm step to underscore the US’ determination to protect its own security. The carrier had reached the broader US Southern Command area of operations a few days ago. This extends to the Caribbean Sea and the waters bordering Central and South America.
US Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth then announced the “Southern Spear” military operation. Hegseth, who has for some time been named by US President Donald Trump’s administration as secretary of war, did not name the attack or its specific location.
For weeks, the US military has been attacking ships suspected of carrying drug smugglers in the Caribbean and Pacific. On Sunday, US Southern Command announced new strikes. It is said that three men – “drug terrorists” were killed. The ship was transporting drugs in the Eastern Pacific.
The Pentagon has confirmed to the German Press Agency that there had been 20 attacks with a total of 79 deaths at the start of the week. This approach has received international criticism. The UN called on the US government to exercise restraint. Drugs are causing huge problems in the US. The US government blames gangs said to be from Venezuela for the drug oversupply.
Speculation about the US government’s intentions
The carrier’s relocation has fueled speculation about whether the US government is truly concerned with combating drug trafficking – and not even with changing power in Venezuela. The Trump administration accused President Nicolás Maduro of being involved in drug smuggling into the United States. Trump also recently confirmed that he had approved covert operations carried out by the US foreign secret service CIA in Venezuela.
