President Donald Trump has initiated a new phase in the United States’ intensified efforts against drug trafficking. The USS Gerald R Ford, recognized as the largest warship globally, has been deployed to the Caribbean Sea. The US military has taken action against multiple vessels suspected of participating in illegal drug activities. President Trump has directly accused Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro of heading drug-trafficking organizations, an allegation firmly refuted by Maduro. Amid escalating tensions, Maduro has accused the US of manufacturing a conflict, raising concerns in Venezuela about potential US military intervention to oust his regime.
The relationship between the US and Venezuela remains strained, with the US disputing Maduro’s legitimacy following the 2024 Presidential election. In response to the deployment of the USS Gerald R Ford, Maduro criticized the US, stating they are creating unwarranted conflicts despite previous assurances against military engagements.
The presence of the immense USS Gerald R Ford could significantly impact the US-Venezuela standoff, as the warship’s capabilities may enable US forces to engage in land operations. President Trump hinted at potential land operations, emphasizing the US military’s firm control over sea territories.
The Pentagon announced on Friday the deployment of the USS Gerald R Ford to the US Southern Command region, encompassing the Caribbean, South, and Central America. Boasting impressive dimensions of 334 meters in length, 78 meters in width, and a massive 100,000-ton displacement, the USS Gerald R Ford stands as the largest operational warship globally. Equipped with advanced technology, including two nuclear reactors for enhanced power, the warship features an electromagnetic aircraft launch system (EMALS) for launching aircraft using magnets, enabling the deployment of heavier aircraft with greater fuel capacities.
The USS Gerald R Ford is armed with an array of missiles, with combat ranges up to 2,000 km, and carries various aircraft types, including cargo, passenger, electronic-jamming planes, and helicopters. Despite its substantial load, the warship can achieve speeds of up to 35 miles per hour on water. Notably, the Ford does not accommodate the latest F-35C fighter jets but operates alongside a carrier strike group for defense, comprising a cruiser, a supply ship, and at least two destroyers.
This extraordinary warship incurred a monumental construction cost of $13.3 billion (over £9 billion), making it the world’s most expensive war vessel. Although commissioned in 2017, the USS Gerald R Ford commenced its inaugural deployment in 2022.