U.S. Sends Powerful Naval Fleet to Caribbean Amid Tensions with Venezuela

The United States has deployed one of its most advanced naval fleets to the Caribbean, led by the nuclear-powered aircraft carrier USS Gerald R. Ford, the largest warship ever built.

The 333-meter-long carrier, commissioned in 2017, can carry over 75 aircraft and houses a crew of 4,550 personnel.

It is joined by the USS Bainbridge, a guided-missile destroyer, as well as several other U.S. Navy vessels already stationed in the region — including the USS Iwo Jima, USS Antonio, USS Gravely, USS Lake Erie, USS Stockdale, and USS Gettysburg.

The deployment, featuring a mix of destroyers, cruisers, and amphibious ships, underscores America’s ability to project power and respond rapidly to emerging regional challenges.

While U.S. officials have not detailed the mission’s exact purpose, the move signals growing attention to Caribbean security dynamics amid rising geopolitical tensions.