U.S. Deploys Ford Carrier Group to Caribbean as Venezuela Orders Nationwide Mobilization

Overview

• The Pentagon said the USS Gerald R. Ford strike group entered the U.S. Southern Command area on Nov. 11 to support counter-narcotics operations.
• Venezuela’s Defense Ministry announced a massive mobilization of land, air, naval, riverine, missile units and the Bolivarian militia across all states.
• Planning documents and sources cited by Reuters outline a “prolonged resistance” using dispersed small units in more than 280 locations and a separate “anarquização” option to sow urban disorder via intelligence services and pro-government armed supporters.
• U.S. forces have struck roughly 20 vessels since September, with officials reporting about 76 deaths and saying the targets were tied to drug trafficking, while critics note the U.S. has not publicly provided evidence and CNN reported the UK would withhold related intelligence.
• Russia condemned the maritime strikes as unacceptable, and recent U.S. moves include doubling the reward for Nicolás Maduro to $50 million and reported authorization of CIA activities inside Venezuela.