The U.S. military has deployed one of its largest forces to the Caribbean in decades, placing thousands of Marines and the world's most advanced aircraft carrier right on Venezuela's doorstep.
Operation Southern Spear Ramps Up
Secretary of War Pete Hegseth announced Operation Southern Spear on November 13, 2025, describing it as a mission to "remove narco-terrorists from our Hemisphere" and stop drugs killing Americans. The operation falls under U.S. Southern Command and Joint Task Force Southern Spear.
The USS Gerald R. Ford Carrier Strike Group entered the Caribbean Sea on November 16, 2025, after crossing into the USSOUTHCOM area of responsibility on November 11. The Ford, the Navy's newest supercarrier, brings F-35C stealth fighters, advanced radars, and a full air wing.
The buildup includes the USS Iwo Jima Amphibious Ready Group with the 22nd Marine Expeditionary Unit (MEU) embarked. This adds more than 2,200 Marines, MV-22 Ospreys, CH-53E helicopters, and landing craft. In total, nearly a dozen warships and around 12,000 sailors and Marines now operate in the region.
Marines Train in Trinidad and Tobago
At the same time, the 22nd MEU began joint exercises with the Trinidad and Tobago Defence Force (TTDF) on November 16. The training runs through November 21 in urban and rural areas, including night operations and helicopter movements.
The U.S. Embassy in Port of Spain stated the exercises focus on countering transnational threats, promoting regional stability, and improving disaster response. TTDF officials emphasized that the drills help combat illegal guns and drugs entering Trinidad and Tobago.
Trinidad and Tobago sit just seven miles from Venezuela's coast at the closest point (More accurately, it would be closer to 6.9 miles).
Closest U.S. Military Presence in Years
The Ford's arrival marks the heaviest U.S. naval concentration in the Caribbean since the Cold War era. SOUTHCOM has released videos of live-fire drills from the Iwo Jima that highlight the Marines' commitment to readiness.
The deployment follows months of U.S. interdictions of suspected drug-trafficking vessels in international waters. The hybrid fleet, including unmanned systems, supports persistent monitoring.
U.S. forces remain positioned across the southern Caribbean as the operation continues.
