The USS Ford, currently deployed to the Mediterranean Sea, has been ordered to sail to the U.S. Southern Command’s Area of Responsibility as tensions keep rising.
Chief Pentagon spokesman Sean Parnell has announced that Secretary Hegseth has ordered the USS Gerald R. Ford and its Carrier Strike Group to the U.S. Southern Command’s Area of Responsibility. The ship, which is currently in Croatia as part of the deployment to the Mediterranean Sea, will “bolster U.S. capacity to detect, monitor, and disrupt illicit actors and activities that compromise the safety and prosperity of the United States.”
The development comes as tensions in the Caribbean keep rising, following an increase of the U.S. strikes against suspected drug boats and two bomber flights near the Venezuelan coastline. It is unclear how long it would take for the Ford CSG to arrive in the SOUTHCOM AOR, but estimates put the estimated time of arrival within a week.
New Deployments to the Caribbean
In the statement released on Oct. 24, 2025, Chief Pentagon spokesman Sean Parnell wrote:
“In support of the President’s directive to dismantle Transnational Criminal Organizations (TCOs) and counter narco-terrorism in defense of the Homeland, the Secretary of War has directed the Gerald R. Ford Carrier Strike Group and embarked carrier air wing to the U.S. Southern Command (USSOUTHCOM) area of responsibility (AOR).
The enhanced U.S. force presence in the USSOUTHCOM AOR will bolster U.S. capacity to detect, monitor, and disrupt illicit actors and activities that compromise the safety and prosperity of the United States homeland and our security in the Western Hemisphere. These forces will enhance and augment existing capabilities to disrupt narcotics trafficking and degrade and dismantle TCOs.”
STATEMENT:
In support of the President’s directive to dismantle Transnational Criminal Organizations (TCOs) and counter narco-terrorism in defense of the Homeland, the Secretary of War has directed the Gerald R. Ford Carrier Strike Group and embarked carrier air wing to the U.S.…
— Sean Parnell (@SeanParnellASW) October 24, 2025
The Ford Carrier Strike Group left Naval Station Norfolk, Virginia, in June, headed to the U.S. Sixth Fleet AOR. The Gerald R. Ford Carrier Strike Group consists of Carrier Strike Group 12, Carrier Air Wing 8, Destroyer Squadron Two’s USS Bainbridge (DDG 96), USS Mahan (DDG 72), USS Winston S. Churchill (DDG 81), USS Mitscher (DDG-57) and USS Forrest Sherman (DDG-98).
The carrier recently arrived in Split, Croatia, for a scheduled port visit, while destroyers were deployed to multiple locations throughout the AOR. Two of the destroyers are in the Red Sea and Arabian Sea, but it is unknown if they will join the carrier as it moves towards the SOUTHCOM AOR.
USS FORD 🇺🇸 CVN-78 spotted YESTERDAY & TODAY on RT off Split, Croatia at
43.4714,16.4401
ONE HOUR AGO she was directed to USSOUTHCOM AOR. Transit is estimated to take 5 to 7 days placing her in the Caribbean AOR by early November 2025. https://t.co/GJkkdZ0DQw pic.twitter.com/0ICAwu2L7i
— Tom Bike (@tom_bike) October 24, 2025
The Ford CSG is not the only asset to have been ordered to the area, as the Aviation Week’s Brian Everstine reported the U.S. Army’s ARES, ARTEMIS and ATHENA Intelligence, Surveillance and Reconnaissance jets have also been tasked for operations in the SOUTHCOM AOR.
SNC’s ATHENAs wrapping tests, but slowed by gov shutdown
Army says bridge prototypes (ARES, ARTEMIS, ATHENA) have been tasked for SOUTHCOM operations
— Brian Everstine (@beverstine) October 24, 2025
Another specialized asset, the U.S. Air Force’s E-11A Battlefield Airborne Communications Node (BACN), has been spotted on flight tracking websites headed for Puerto Rico.
A very interesting movement into the Caribbean today also seems to be this E-11A airborne communication aircraft heading from Robins AFB towards Puerto Rico pic.twitter.com/PXQLdWQzss
— CNW (@ConflictsW) October 23, 2025
Bomber Missions
On Oct. 23, two U.S. Air Force B-1B Lancer strategic bombers departed from Dyess Air Force Base, Texas, and executed a long-range training sortie across the Caribbean Sea, pushing into international air space off the coast of Venezuela. According to U.S. news outlets, Pentagon’s officials confirmed a training mission took place in the area.
U.S. President Donald Trump, however, denied it when asked during a press conference. Fox News’ Aishah Hasnie asked:
“If I could just ask both of you, including Secretary Hegseth, there’s reporting the U.S. just sent B-1 bombers near Venezuela to ramp up some military pressure there. Is that accurate? And can you tell us more about that mission?
President Trump then responded:
“Not accurate. No, it’s false, but we’re not happy with Venezuela for a lot of reasons. Drugs being one of them.”
During a roundtable earlier at the White House regarding the Cartels, President Donald J. Trump confusingly denied that today’s flight by a pair of B-1B “Lancer” Long-Range Heavy Bombers near Venezuela took place, despite them appearing clearly several times on Flightradar24,… pic.twitter.com/D80EXDPuq1
— OSINTdefender (@sentdefender) October 23, 2025
The mission was followed by many on flight tracking websites, which showed the bombers coming within 50 miles of the Venezuelan coast and within six miles of the outlying Los Testigos islands. The bombers, callsigns BARB21 and BARB22, also coordinated with KC-135 tankers while flying towards the area.
Confirmation of the B-1B callsign BARB via @flightradar24 now heading back to CONUS after seen off the coast of Venezuela. Their ADSB/Mode-S was turned on intentionally. CURIE? 91 (RC-135) is also in the vicinity after refueling with DREW 14 (KC-135). There are so many aircraft… https://t.co/qcNWi8c6O5 pic.twitter.com/Zb9bzCkyDS
— Thenewarea51 (@thenewarea51) October 23, 2025
Ten days ago, on Oct. 15, a similar mission took place again, this time with B-52H bombers. The bombers were escorted by U.S. Marine Corps F-35B Lightning II jets, notably without Radar Cross Section enhancers, while flying off the coast of Venezuela.
Breaking today: The U.S. carried out a 2nd bomber demo in the Caribbean, sending two USAF B-1B Lancer bombers ~50 miles off the coast of Venezuela.
The pair of Bones came within ~6 miles of Los Testigos, a Venezuelan island group (with a coast guard station). Via @flightradar24: pic.twitter.com/Nq3C6ktNSy
— Ian Ellis (@ianellisjones) October 24, 2025
“U.S. Air Force B-52H Stratofortress long-range strategic bombers from Barksdale Air Force Base, La., conducted a bomber attack demonstration mission Oct. 15, 2025, in the U.S. Southern Command (SOUTHCOM) area of responsibility demonstrating the U.S. commitment to proactively deter adversary threats to the U.S. homeland and the region, enhance crew training, and ensure the global force readiness necessary to respond to any contingency or challenge,” said U.S. Air Forces Southern (AFSOUTH) in a post on Facebook.
According to publicly available flight tracking data, three B-52s from Barksdale Air Force Base, Louisiana, flying as BUNNY 01, BUNNY 02 and BUNNY 03, operated for hours within the Maiquetía Flight Information Region, off Venezuela’s northern coastline, before returning north.
Significance
The deployment of the USS Gerald R. Ford CSG to the U.S. Southern Command’s Area of Responsibility marks a significant expansion of American military activity in the Caribbean, blending counter-narcotics objectives with strategic signaling. While strikes against suspected drug vessels ramped up, with multiple instances in the last few days, it is unclear what should be expected in the next weeks.
The Pentagon framed the move as part of an ongoing effort to combat Transnational Criminal Organizations. However, the timing — with strikes ramping up and comments about strikes against land targets — suggests this could also be part of a broader deterrence message.
The Ford’s redeployment is especially notable in that perspective, as it is the largest and the newest U.S. Navy aircraft carrier. Once the carrier makes its way into the Caribbean, it will provide sustained ISR coverage, air-intercept capability, and maritime interdiction potential that far exceeds what SOUTHCOM normally commands, even with the ongoing build-up.
Combined with the presence of specialized aircraft like ARES, ARTEMIS, ATHENA, and BACN, the Iwo Jima Amphibious Ready Group (ARG), a Marine Expeditionary Unit (MEU) and multiple air assets, the arrival of a CSG would establish a multidomain task force which would be capable of both sustaining the counter-narcotics operations as well as a further expansion of the operations.
