DLNews World at War:

Venezuela Mobilizes Military as U.S. Aircraft Carrier Arrives Off Latin America

Tensions between the United States and Venezuela are intensifying after the arrival of the USS Gerald R. Ford, the world’s largest aircraft carrier, off the coast of Latin America. The U.S. Navy confirmed the deployment on Tuesday, describing it as part of a regional operation aimed at curbing drug trafficking and organized crime. The massive supercarrier, home to more than 4,000 sailors and dozens of tactical aircraft, is joined by three guided-missile destroyers forming a powerful naval task force.

According to U.S. Southern Command, the carrier group reached its operational area on November 11, though the precise location remains undisclosed for security reasons. The Pentagon insists the mission is focused solely on counter-narcotics operations and not intended to provoke confrontation. Still, the move has drawn sharp criticism from Caracas and fueled broader international concern.

In response, Venezuelan Defense Minister Vladimir Padrino announced an immediate mobilization of the country’s armed forces, including regular troops, militias, and armored divisions. The government launched a 48-hour military exercise intended to demonstrate readiness and deter what it calls “foreign aggression.” President Nicolás Maduro’s administration accuses Washington of using the drug war as a pretext for regime change, a claim U.S. officials firmly reject.

The United Nations has urged restraint on both sides. UN High Commissioner for Human Rights Volker Türk called on the United States to reassess the legality of its actions under international law, emphasizing that counter-narcotics operations must comply with human rights standards. International observers have warned that the situation could escalate quickly if either side misinterprets the other’s movements in the Caribbean.

The deployment was ordered by President Trump earlier this year as part of an expanded effort to intercept drug trafficking routes allegedly linked to Venezuela. U.S. officials argue that narcotics networks operating through the region pose a direct threat to American national security. According to Pentagon briefings, at least 76 suspected traffickers have been killed since operations began in September, though Venezuelan officials claim the figures represent unlawful killings of civilians.

While Washington denies any intent to launch an offensive against Caracas, the language from both capitals remains heated. Maduro has accused the United States of orchestrating a campaign to destabilize his government, calling the deaths at sea “executions” and labeling the carrier’s arrival “a provocation.” Trump, for his part, has maintained that Maduro’s regime is “on borrowed time,” suggesting that the U.S. will continue to apply pressure until democratic reforms are restored.

With military vessels positioned just beyond Venezuelan waters and both sides issuing defiant statements, the Caribbean once again finds itself at the center of geopolitical tension. Analysts warn that even a minor incident could ignite a broader confrontation—one that could reverberate across the Western Hemisphere.