Massive US Marine Buildup in Caribbean Just 7 Miles from Venezuela's Coast

[steve2470]

https://www.military.com/feature/2025/11/19/massive-us-marine-buildup-caribbean-just-7-miles-venezuelas-coast.html

(as far as I know, this is a legit source. If you know better, please inform, thanks)

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.

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.