The aircraft carrier USS Gerald R. Ford, the largest and most advanced warship in the world, arrived in Latin America this week under direct orders from President Donald Trump.
The vessel officially entered the area of responsibility of the United States Southern Command (SOUTHCOM) on November 11, 2025, marking one of the most significant naval movements by the U.S. Navy in the region in recent years. The deployment comes amid increased U.S. operations against drug trafficking in the Caribbean and South America, justified as a mission to “protect the security of the Western Hemisphere.”
Measuring 333 meters long, weighing 100,000 tons, and capable of carrying 90 aircraft and 4,500 crew members, the USS Gerald R. Ford is the lead ship of its class and the first of the U.S. Navy’s next-generation carriers, powered by nuclear reactors. Built by Newport News Shipbuilding and commissioned in 2017, the ship is equipped with Sea Sparrow missile launchers, Browning M2 machine guns, close-in defense systems, and an electromagnetic aircraft launch system, as well as an advanced arresting gear system. It is the first of five carriers scheduled to be built by 2036.
The strike group led by the Ford includes the destroyers USS Bainbridge, USS Mahan, and USS Winston S. Churchill, along with F/A-18E/F Super Hornet fighters, EA-18G Growler electronic warfare aircraft, E-2D Hawkeye surveillance planes, and MH-60 Seahawk helicopters. The Pentagon stated that the group will “enhance the U.S. ability to detect, monitor, and disrupt illicit activities,” integrating a force that already includes eight other warships, a nuclear submarine, and F-35 fighters operating in the region.
The move, however, raises international concerns. The presence of B-52 and B-1B bombers and an increase in reconnaissance missions suggest an escalation in military activity, while allies such as the United Kingdom have expressed reservations about the legality of lethal strikes carried out under the pretext of combating drug trafficking.
Trump, who recently notified Congress of an “armed conflict” against the cartels, faces both domestic and international criticism, but the deployment of the Gerald R. Ford reinforces the show of force by his administration at a time of political and military tension across the Americas.
Source: UOL / The Aviationist | Photo: X @USNavy | This content was created with the help of AI and reviewed by the editorial team.
🇺🇸🇻🇪 WATCH: The largest U.S. military mobilization since the Iraq War is underway. The USS Gerald R. Ford is en route to Venezuela, with planes, ships, and troops moving into position. A major event could unfold in the coming days or weeks. pic.twitter.com/tNdQADJ717
— Defence Index (@Defence_Index) November 12, 2025
