Overview
- The USS Gerald R. Ford left Split, Croatia and is moving under U.S. Southern Command to operate in the Caribbean, with arrival expected next week, according to ANSA.
- The Pentagon says the deployment aims to detect, monitor, and interdict illicit activities that threaten U.S. national security, and it includes three accompanying warships.
- Satellite tracking and media reports place several U.S. units a little over 100 nautical miles from Venezuela, with additional bombers and F-35s positioned at regional bases including Puerto Rico.
- ANSA describes a broader joint force featuring Tomahawk-armed ships, a nuclear-powered attack submarine, B‑1 and B‑52 bombers, Reaper drones, Marines, and a special operations mothership.
- President Trump says no direct attack on Venezuela is planned, yet his vow to kill drug traffickers and analysts’ warnings about miscalculation underscore the risk of an incident near Venezuelan waters.