Overview
- The Washington Post estimates eight warships, a nuclear submarine and a special-purpose vessel are operating near Venezuela with air cover that includes B-52 bombers and F-35 fighters.
- The USS Gerald R. Ford carrier strike group with five escorts is moving from Europe toward the area and is expected to arrive within days.
- With the carrier group, the force could total roughly 16,000 personnel, according to the newspaper’s calculations.
- U.S. officials frame the expanded posture as part of counter-narcotics operations targeting trafficking networks.
- The New York Times reports President Trump authorized CIA covert operations and ended diplomatic outreach, even as he said on Oct. 31 that strikes are not being considered.