UPDATE: The Pentagon has just announced the urgent deployment of the USS Gerald R. Ford aircraft carrier strike group to U.S. Southern Command, a bold move aimed at combating drug trafficking in Latin America. This significant military action comes as part of a focused effort to target transnational criminal organizations (TCOs) that threaten the safety of the United States.
Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth confirmed this deployment, stating that the USS Ford will operate in areas encompassing Central America, South America, and the Caribbean Sea. The strike group aims to “detect, monitor, and disrupt illicit actors” involved in narcotics trafficking, enhancing existing capabilities to dismantle these criminal networks, according to Pentagon spokesman Sean Parnell.
The USS Ford, currently operating in the Mediterranean Sea, will take several days to reach its new station. While specific locations within the region have not been disclosed, this deployment signifies a major escalation in U.S. military presence in the area.
Earlier today, Hegseth reported that U.S. forces conducted their 10th strike on a suspected drug-running vessel operated by the Tren de Aragua gang in the Caribbean, resulting in six fatalities. This strike underscores the U.S. commitment to aggressive military action against drug smuggling operations, following an executive order by President Donald Trump earlier this year that designated Tren de Aragua, along with MS-13 and Mexican drug cartels, as foreign terrorist organizations.
In a stark warning via social media, Hegseth stated, “If you are a narco-terrorist smuggling drugs in our hemisphere, we will treat you like we treat Al-Qaeda.” His comments highlight the administration’s resolve to dismantle these networks, emphasizing a zero-tolerance approach against drug traffickers.
The urgency of these operations is underscored by the alarming number of overdose deaths in the U.S., which the Trump administration attributes, in part, to the unchecked activities of drug cartels. When asked whether a formal declaration of war against these organizations would be sought, Trump stated, “I think we’re just going to kill people that are bringing drugs into our country.”
The military’s recent actions, including strikes in the eastern Pacific, represent a shift in strategy to target regions where significant amounts of cocaine are smuggled into the U.S. The Pentagon’s deployment is seen as a crucial step in a larger plan to confront the escalating drug crisis head-on.
As this situation develops, the military’s next steps will be closely monitored by both national and international observers. The U.S. commitment to increased military action in Latin America signals a new chapter in America’s fight against drug trafficking and its associated violence.
Stay tuned for ongoing updates as this situation unfolds.
