The USS Gerald R. Ford aircraft carriers arrive in the Caribbean for a major construction near Venezuela

The nation’s most advanced aircraft carrier ran aground in the Caribbean Sea on Sunday, the US Navy said, marking the largest formation in the region.

The arrival of the USS Gerald R. Ford marks a major step in what the Trump Administration says is a counterdrug operation but has been seen as a dramatic move to pressure Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro. The US understood that Maduro had agreed with the armed gangs that seized drugs from the US, an allegation that Maduro denied. And two months ago, the US military has At least 22 ships were raided It means that it was burning drugs from South America to the US, killing at least 83 people.

“With unwavering commitment and the precise use of our forces, we stand ready to fight the transnational threats that seek to destroy our region,” the Commander of US Southern Command,

The deployment of the USS Gerald R. Ford Carrier Strike Group represents a critical step to strengthen our determination to protect the security of the Western Hemisphere and the security of the United States,” he added. The Southern Command is the main combat unit for operations in the Caribbean and South America.

Ford It surrounds the largest building We have been shot in the region for generations, where is the secretary of defense Pete Hegsesseth Petugseth Aqurbeseth Open Hegseth. Ford’s Carrier Strike Group, which includes squadrons of fighter jets and destroyers, intercepted the Anegada vessel near the British Virgin Islands on Sunday morning, the military said.

Rear ADM. Paul Lanzilotta, commanding Ford’s Carrier Strike Group, said it will strengthen the US’s major military capabilities “to protect our nation’s security and the prosperity of Norco –

The administration has insisted that the war effort is focused on protecting the flow of drugs into the US, but has not produced evidence to support its claim that those killed in the boats were ‘narco-terrorists.’

President Trump said that Friday How “kind” decided to continue in Venezuelaas Higher authorities he has the weight of military operations in the Latin American country. “I’ve made up my mind” about the administration’s next steps in Venezuela, he told CBB News Air Force Over, but “I can’t tell you what it’s going to be.”

Top Trump Administration officials, military personnel and senior officials met at the White House for at least the third day in a row on Friday to discuss routine military operations in Venezuela, according to sources familiar with the matter. Vice President JD Vence, Hegsseth, joint chiefs of staff Dan Cane and Secretary of State Marco Rubio were among those who spoke with Mr. Trump at the White House on Friday, sources said.

Venezuela was also discussed as part of the President’s daily intelligence briefing on Wednesday. CBS News has it Earlier it was reported that Hegseth, Cain and other commanders of the army brought Mr. Trump on Wednesday about ways to get jobs Venezuela In the coming days, it includes possible strikes in the world.

Meanwhile, Venezuela announced on Tuesday that it was Launching a major military exercise Nationwide, it reportedly involves some 200,000 troops.

Many people both inside Venezuela, including Maduro himself, and observers outside the country believe that they have increased the pressure of the US military It is aimed at forcing Maduro out of office.

When asked In a recent interview with “60 Minutes” If Maduro’s days are “counting down,” Mr. Trump replied, “I would say yes.” I think so, yes. “Mr Trump Last month and confirmed That he had authorized Cofirt CIA operations in Venezuela.

The President has justified these attacks on drug boats by saying that the US is “unarmed in the drug conflict” when he says the boats are being used by foreign terrorist organizations. He faced pushback from Leaders in the regionthe King of Human Rights of Workers And lawmakers, including some Republicans, have suppressed other details about who was targeted and the legal justification for the boat being crushed.

Senate Republicans recently voted to reject the law That would put a check on Mr. Trump to launch an attack against Venezuela without Ronmessional authorization. Sens. Rand Paul of Kentucky and Lisa Murkowski of Alaska were the only Republicans to support the resolution, which failed in a 49-51 vote.

Experts do not agree that American warplanes could be used to attack international targets inside Venezuela. Either way, the 100,000-ton warship sends a message, one expert said.

“This is the anchor of what it means to have the military power of America and Latin America,” elizabeth Dickinson, senior analyst of the group of international countries for the Andes region, told the related media. “And it raised a lot of concerns in Venezuela but also in all the regions. I think everyone is watching this with a kind of petting breath to see how we should use the forces.”