--- title: "Supercarrier USS Ford Being Pulled From Europe And Ordered To Caribbean" description: "The U.S. Navy's supercarrier [USS *Gerald R. Ford*]() and at least a portion of the rest of its strike group have been ordered to Latin American waters. This represents a new and especially significant deployment of [U.S. forces into the…" date: "2025-10-24" modified: "2025-10-24" authors: - name: "Joseph Trevithick" job_title: "Deputy Editor" link: "https://www.twz.com/authors/joseph-trevithick" url: "https://www.twz.com/sea/supercarrier-uss-ford-being-pulled-from-europe-and-ordered-to-caribbean" categories: - "Americas" - "Around The Globe" - "Carriers" - "Ford Class" - "News & Features" - "Sea" - "South America" - "USS Gerald R. Ford (CVN-78)" --- # Supercarrier USS Ford Being Pulled From Europe And Ordered To Caribbean ![The U.S. Navy's supercarrier USS Gerald R. Ford and at least a portion of the rest of its strike group have been ordered to Latin American waters.]() *The USS Gerald R. Ford transits the Strait of Gibraltar on October 1, 2025. USN* The U.S. Navy's supercarrier [USS *Gerald R. Ford*]() and at least a portion of the rest of its strike group have been ordered to Latin American waters. This represents a new and especially significant deployment of [U.S. forces into the Western Hemisphere]() amid a steady escalation in the scale and scope of ostensible counter-narcotics operations. Strikes [on alleged drug-smuggling boats]() have [now become routine](), and the possibility that the campaign could extend to targets on land, [particularly in Venezuela](), continues to grow. Sean Parnell, the Pentagon's top spokesperson, made the unexpected announcement about *Ford*, which is currently in the eastern end of the Mediterranean Sea on a scheduled deployment. "In support of the President’s \[Donald Trump\] directive to dismantle Transnational Criminal Organizations (TCOs) and counter narco-terrorism in defense of the Homeland, the Secretary of War \[Pete Hegseth\] 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)," Parnell said in a statement. "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." https://twitter.com/SeanParnellASW/status/1981759934539985132 *Ford*, the Navy's newest carrier, currently has a full air wing embarked, which includes [F/A-18E/F Super Hornet]() fighters, [EA-18G Growler]() electronic warfare jets, [E-2D Hawkeye]() airborne early warning and control planes, [C-2A Greyhound]() Carrier Onboard Delivery (COD) aircraft, and [MH-60R/S Seahawk helicopters](). The rest of its strike group includes four [*Arleigh Burke* class destroyers]() – USS *Winston S. Churchill*, USS *Bainbridge*, USS *Mahan*, and USS *Forrest Sherman* – and likely at least one attack submarine. [*USNI News* has reported]() that it is currently unclear which of *Ford's* escorts may accompany it to the SOUTHCOM AOR, citing an unnamed source. The outlet noted that, at least as of Monday, the USS *Forrest Sherman* and USS *Mitscher* were operating independently in the Red Sea and Arabian Sea, respectively It is likely to take *Ford* at least a week to get back across the Mediterranean and then the Atlantic Ocean. Where exactly within the SOUTHCOM AOR the carrier and elements of its strike group might take up station remains to be seen. Regardless, just pulling *Ford* from a scheduled deployment is a major development and follows an already substantial build-up of U.S. [naval](), [air, and other assets]() in and around the Caribbean. As of last week, [approximately 10,000 U.S. personnel, in total](), were forward deployed in the region. *Fox News* has reported that the Navy is now set to see roughly 14 percent of its combat fleets operating within SOUTHCOM's AOR. https://twitter.com/Acyn/status/1981777618296090994 https://twitter.com/ianellisjones/status/1980056087559885056 The Navy's aircraft carrier strike groups, in general, are at the very top of the U.S. military's power-projection assets, offering immense capability to exercise control over surrounding sea and airspace, as well as to launch strikes on targets on the water and ashore hundreds of miles away in any direction. They also provide huge floating bases that can be utilized in other ways, including as launch points for [major special operations forces missions](). Even if only a portion of the Ford Carrier Strike Group ultimately deploys to the SOUTHCOM AOR, it would still represent a major boost in capabilities and operational capacity in the theater. There are already multiple *Arleigh Burke* class destroyers, as well as a *Ticonderoga* class cruiser, in the region that could also join with *Ford* and its escorts, including to help provide protection for the carrier. The overall threat picture is not high, though [one still does exist](). It is worth noting that carrier strike groups also train heavily before deployments to be a deeply integrated, singular fighting force, something that would not exist with warships already in the Caribbean. Still, this combination of naval forces would likely be more than enough to suffice in this scenario. Altogether, *Ford*'s impending arrival can only signal a new and substantial escalation in U.S. operations in the region. As noted, American forces are now regularly striking small boats alleged to be involved in drug smuggling. Just earlier today, Secretary of War Hegseth announced the ninth such strike known to have occured since the start of September. To date, seven of the strikes have targeted boats in the Caribbean, while two more have occured in the Eastern Pacific Ocean. https://twitter.com/SecWar/status/1981706596972372446 All of this also comes amid U.S. government efforts to put particular pressure on Venezuelan strongman Nicolas Maduro. Just yesterday, Air Force [B-1 bombers conducted a show of force]() close to Venezuela's coast. Last week, Air Force [B-52 bombers](), accompanied by U.S. Marine Corps F-35B Joint Strike Fighters, conducted a similar mission that officials later described as a “[bomber attack demonstration]().” ![]() *A B-52 and two F-35Bs seen flying together during the “bomber attack demonstration mission” last week. USAF* There has been a steady drumbeat of reports in recent weeks pointing to the growing [possibility of direct action of some kind]() against Maduro's regime. President Trump [said on Wednesday ]()that his administration was moving to target drug cartels on land, though he did not elaborate on what that might entail or where such operations might occur. He also confirmed last week that he had [authorized the CIA to engage in covert operations]() against the Venezuelan government. Maduro has been under indictment in the United States since 2020 for drug trafficking and other charges, and American authorities [currently have a $50 million bounty out]() for his capture. While it will take some time for the elements of the Ford Carrier Strike Group to arrive in Latin American waters, that they are on their way already signals U.S. operations in the region are entering a new phase. *Contact the author: joe@twz.com* ## Author Joseph is *TWZ’s* Deputy Editor, helping to oversee the site’s highly experienced and dedicated team, while also writing informative and impactful defense and national security content. He lives right in the thick of it in the Washington, D.C. area. ### Author social links [Twitter]() [Bluesky]()