U.S. Deploys Supercarrier and Thousands of Marines to Caribbean Near Venezuela Under Operation Southern Spear

CARIBBEAN SEA – The U.S. military has moved one of its largest forces to the Caribbean in decades, sending the USS Gerald R. Ford carrier strike group and the USS Iwo Jima amphibious ready group with the 22nd Marine Expeditionary Unit near Venezuela. The buildup follows the launch of Operation Southern Spear on November 13, 2025, aimed at countering regional threats and drug trafficking.

Operation Southern Spear: Mission and Command

Secretary of War Pete Hegseth announced Operation Southern Spear on November 13, 2025, describing it as a mission to “remove narco-terrorists from our Hemisphere” and stop drugs killing Americans. The operation falls under U.S. Southern Command (SOUTHCOM) and Joint Task Force Southern Spear, positioning U.S. forces across the southern Caribbean for sustained operations.

Carrier Strike Group and Amphibious Forces Move In

The USS Gerald R. Ford Carrier Strike Group entered the Caribbean Sea on November 16, 2025, after crossing into the USSOUTHCOM area of responsibility on November 11. The Navy’s newest supercarrier brings F-35C stealth fighters, advanced radars, and a full air wing to the region.

The buildup also includes the USS Iwo Jima Amphibious Ready Group with the 22nd Marine Expeditionary Unit (MEU) embarked. The deployment adds more than 2,200 Marines, MV-22 Ospreys, CH-53E helicopters, and landing craft. In total, nearly a dozen warships and around 12,000 sailors and Marines now operate in the region.

Key assets and timeline

• USS Gerald R. Ford carrier strike group with F-35C fighters and full air wing
• USS Iwo Jima Amphibious Ready Group and 22nd MEU (Special Operations Capable)
• Entry to Caribbean: November 16, 2025; transition to USSOUTHCOM AOR: November 11, 2025
• Force size: nearly a dozen warships; approximately 12,000 sailors and Marines

Joint Training with Trinidad and Tobago Defence Force

Alongside the maritime buildup, the 22nd MEU began joint exercises with the Trinidad and Tobago Defence Force (TTDF) on November 16. The drills, which run through November 21, span urban and rural environments and include night operations and helicopter movements. The U.S. Embassy in Port of Spain said the training focuses on countering transnational threats, promoting regional stability, and improving disaster response. TTDF officials emphasized the exercises support efforts to combat illegal guns and drugs entering 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).

Heaviest U.S. Naval Concentration in the Caribbean in Years

The Ford’s arrival marks the heaviest U.S. naval concentration in the Caribbean since the Cold War era. SOUTHCOM has released videos of live-fire drills from the Iwo Jima underscoring the Marines’ readiness. The deployment follows months of U.S. interdictions of suspected drug-trafficking vessels in international waters. A hybrid fleet, including unmanned systems, is supporting persistent maritime monitoring.

Regional Security Context

• Exercises are designed to bolster counter-narcotics and counter-transnational threats across the southern Caribbean.
• U.S. and TTDF activities aim to strengthen regional stability and disaster response capabilities.
• The deployment places advanced U.S. naval and Marine assets in proximity to Venezuela and key maritime routes.

Current Posture

U.S. forces remain positioned across the southern Caribbean as Operation Southern Spear continues. The combined presence of the USS Gerald R. Ford strike group and the USS Iwo Jima amphibious group signals a sustained, large-scale maritime security operation in the region.

Conclusion

The U.S. military’s deployment represents a significant escalation of presence in the Caribbean, with thousands of Marines, advanced air assets, and dozens of naval platforms engaged in security missions and joint training. As Operation Southern Spear progresses, U.S. and partner forces are expected to maintain operations aimed at deterring illicit trafficking and reinforcing regional stability.