The world’s largest aircraft carrier, the USS Gerald R. Ford, is set to arrive in the northern Caribbean on Sunday amid rising tensions with Venezuela, according to a U.S. military official. The carrier will be joined by 15,000 service members, including 2,000 Marines aboard an amphibious assault ship.
The official, who was not authorized to speak publicly, told NPR that the “table is being set” for possible military action. Meanwhile, administration officials continue to hold high-level meetings with members of Congress and foreign leaders amid ongoing military exercises.
However, it remains unclear if President Trump will authorize the use of military force against Venezuela. So far, the U.S. has conducted 20 strikes on boats in the region, citing their involvement in ferrying drugs trafficked from the country. In August, the U.S. government also set a $50 million reward for the arrest of Venezuelan leader Nicolás Maduro.
Officials told NPR that the arrival of the USS Gerald Ford, which was redirected from the Mediterranean Sea, might be another pressure tactic aimed at Maduro, who has reportedly placed his forces on high alert.
On Friday, President Trump spoke to reporters aboard Air Force One, saying, “I sort of made up my mind” about whether to launch an attack. He added, “I can’t tell you what it is, but we made a lot of progress with Venezuela in terms of stopping drugs from pouring in.”
Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth announced on Thursday via social media that a mission called “Operation Southern Spear” is underway. “This mission defends our Homeland, removes narco-terrorists from our Hemisphere, and secures our Homeland from the drugs that are killing our people,” he wrote. “The Western Hemisphere is America’s neighborhood and we will protect it.”
This increased military activity follows the high-profile resignation last month of U.S. four-star Admiral Alvin Holsey, who had been overseeing the boat strikes. He left his post abruptly two years early.
Pentagon sources told NPR they believe Admiral Holsey resigned because he objected to the assaults on the alleged drug boats, which have so far resulted in 80 deaths. The strikes reportedly targeted vessels that did not appear to pose an immediate hostile threat.
NPR’s Tom Bowman and Quil Lawrence contributed to this report.
https://www.npr.org/2025/11/15/nx-s1-5609888/aircraft-carrier-caribbean-venezuela-military-action
