The United States government has expanded its military presence in the Caribbean Sea with the deployment of the USS Gerald Ford, the world’s largest aircraft carrier. The operation was ordered by President Donald Trump in October and is part of an anti-drug strategy that, according to the Pentagon, seeks to “strengthen the US capacity to detect, monitor, and disrupt actors and illicit activities that compromise the security and prosperity of the Homeland”. The information comes from teleSUR.
The incorporation of the USS Gerald Ford, a nuclear-powered ship capable of carrying more than 75 military aircraft, including F-18 Super Hornet fighters and E-2 Hawkeye early warning aircraft, has provoked criticism from various Latin American governments. For them, the action represents a direct threat to the sovereignty of the region, declared a peace zone a decade ago by the Community of Latin American and Caribbean States (Celac).
Bombings and Reports of Abuses
Despite the Pentagon claiming that the objective of the operation is to combat drug trafficking, reports of bombings against vessels suspected of transporting drugs in the Caribbean and the Pacific have raised questions about the true nature of the mission. Reports indicate dozens of fatalities in recent military actions.
The operation, which covers Central America, South America, and the Caribbean, also includes the deployment of warships, a submarine, combat aircraft, and US troops, mainly in areas near the Venezuelan coast.
Pressures Against the Maduro Government
The military escalation is occurring parallel to a political and economic campaign by Washington against the Venezuelan government. In addition to the military presence, the United States has offered cash rewards for information leading to the capture of President Nicolás Maduro, whom they accuse, without presenting evidence, of leading an alleged drug trafficking cartel.
Governments and analysts in the region assess that the hardening of Trump’s policy is part of a strategy of destabilization and geopolitical control over Latin America and the Caribbean, especially at a time of growing cooperation among Global South countries.
Source: brasil247.com