Tensions in the Caribbean have sharply escalated after the United States deployed the aircraft carrier USS Gerald R. Ford to the region, prompting a state of high alert across Venezuela’s armed forces.

Caracas condemned the move as an “imperialist provocation” aimed at undermining Venezuelan sovereignty and destabilizing Latin America under the pretext of countering drug trafficking.

The Pentagon confirmed the carrier’s arrival in operational waters three weeks after it was ordered to Latin America. According to U.S. Southern Command (SOUTHCOM), the deployment’s stated goal is to “maintain regional security and combat illicit drug trafficking.” However, the mission is part of a broader U.S. military expansion in the Caribbean, where at least six warships have been operating since August. During this time, American airstrikes on alleged narcotics vessels have reportedly killed at least 76 people in 20 separate operations.

Venezuelan Defense Minister Vladimir Padrino López announced a comprehensive military mobilization in response, activating the country’s army, navy, air force, missile defense systems, and Bolivarian militias. He stated that Venezuela would not tolerate any act of aggression disguised as an anti-drug campaign.

“The so-called ‘war on drugs’ is a smokescreen for U.S. militarization and interference,” López said, emphasizing that Venezuela’s armed forces remain vigilant and fully prepared to defend national sovereignty.

President Nicolás Maduro echoed this sentiment, denouncing Washington’s actions as part of a broader strategy to pressure and isolate Caracas. “We stand ready to defend the dignity and independence of the Venezuelan homeland,” Maduro said, while reaffirming his government’s commitment to dialogue and peace.

Venezuelan military units have since conducted nationwide drills to demonstrate deterrence and readiness in the face of growing U.S. presence.

The crisis follows a series of regional reactions to U.S. military activities in the Caribbean. Colombia recently suspended intelligence sharing with Washington after condemning U.S. strikes on speedboats as “extrajudicial executions.” Colombian President Gustavo Petro called for an international investigation into potential war crimes, citing the deaths of civilians from Venezuela, Ecuador, Colombia, and Trinidad and Tobago.

“The fight against narcotics cannot come at the expense of human life and sovereignty,” Petro said, stressing that the U.S. approach violates international law and regional norms.

The Community of Latin American and Caribbean States (CELAC) and the European Union, meeting at a summit in Santa Marta, Colombia, issued a joint communiqué denouncing “all forms of foreign interference and the use of force in regional affairs.” The statement also voiced support for an end to the war in Gaza and condemned Israeli attacks in the occupied West Bank and Jerusalem.

Analysts warn that the deployment of the USS Gerald R. Ford, combined with Venezuela’s mobilization and Colombia’s diplomatic defiance, signals an emerging geopolitical confrontation in the Caribbean. The region, they say, is becoming the stage for a dangerous power struggle where U.S. military influence clashes with Latin America’s growing demands for sovereignty and non-intervention.

“The situation mirrors the Cold War dynamic,” said Latin American security expert Dr. Manuel Domínguez. “Washington’s militarization in the Caribbean risks igniting a regional crisis that could spiral beyond control.”

As the USS Gerald R. Ford continues operations near Latin America’s northern coast, the Caribbean stands on edge — a flashpoint where competing visions of sovereignty, resistance, and imperial power are once again colliding. (ILKHA)