The Caribbean Sea has become a focal point of military activity as the U.S. deploys a formidable naval force, featuring the world’s most advanced aircraft carrier and thousands of Marines, near Venezuela’s shores.
Operation Southern Spear Strengthens U.S. Presence
The deployment marks the beginning of Operation Southern Spear, announced by Secretary of War Pete Hegseth on November 13, 2025. The operation aims to “remove narco-terrorists from our Hemisphere” and curb the drug trade impacting American lives. This initiative is part of U.S. Southern Command and Joint Task Force Southern Spear.
On November 16, 2025, the USS Gerald R. Ford Carrier Strike Group entered the Caribbean, having crossed into the U.S. Southern Command’s area of responsibility on November 11. This supercarrier, equipped with F-35C stealth fighters, advanced radars, and a full air wing, represents a significant show of force.
The military buildup is further supported by the USS Iwo Jima Amphibious Ready Group, which brings the 22nd Marine Expeditionary Unit (MEU) comprising over 2,200 Marines, MV-22 Ospreys, CH-53E helicopters, and landing craft. In total, nearly a dozen warships and approximately 12,000 sailors and Marines are now active in the region.
Joint Exercises with Trinidad and Tobago
Simultaneously, the 22nd MEU is conducting joint exercises with the Trinidad and Tobago Defence Force (TTDF) starting November 16. The exercises, which conclude on November 21, include urban and rural training as well as night operations and helicopter movements.
According to the U.S. Embassy in Port of Spain, these drills aim to counter transnational threats, enhance regional stability, and improve disaster response capabilities. TTDF officials highlight their importance in combating illegal arms and drug trafficking into Trinidad and Tobago.
Trinidad and Tobago sit just seven miles from Venezuela’s coast at the closest point (More accurately, it would be closer to 6.9 miles).
Significant Naval Operations Since the Cold War
The deployment of the USS Gerald R. Ford represents the most substantial U.S. naval presence in the Caribbean since the Cold War. The release of videos by SOUTHCOM showing live-fire drills from the Iwo Jima underscores the readiness and commitment of U.S. forces.
This military action follows numerous U.S. interdictions of suspected drug-trafficking vessels in international waters, utilizing a blend of manned and unmanned systems for continuous surveillance.
As the operation progresses, U.S. forces maintain a strategic position across the southern Caribbean.
