U.S. Aircraft โฃCarrier Gerald Ford Arrives in Virgin Islands Amidst Venezuela Tensions
St.โค Thomas,US Virgin โIslands – Teh U.S. Navy’s newest and most advanced aircraftโ carrier, theโค USS Gerald R. Ford, โฃarrived in St. Thomas, US Virgin Islands today, approximately โ596 miles (970 kilometers) โฃfrom โขVenezuelan territory. The deployment occurs against aโ backdrop of escalating diplomatic and political pressure fromโค the trump governance towards the Maduro regime in Venezuela.
Imagesโ circulating online show the massive vessel approaching the Caribbean archipelago. U.S.โ Southern Commandโฃ confirmed the visit is a scheduled portโ call as part of the carrier strike group’s participation in ‘Operation Southern โคSpear.’
This marks the Gerald R. Ford’s โคfirst visit to St. thomas since joining theโค Southern Command earlier โthis month, having transited the Anegada โPassage โand entered the Caribbean Sea on November 16, 2025.
Rear Admiral โpaul Lanzilotta,โ commander โขof Carrier Strike Group 12, emphasized theโค readiness of the crew. “The Sailors โon our team have been extremely adaptable, taking our US Southern Command โขtask asโฃ their number one priority, doing their part to support the defense of our homeland,” he stated. He further โexplained โthat the port visit allows the โcrew โnecessaryโฃ rest and recovery to continue “upholding law and order throughout the western Hemisphere in support of the President’s priorities.”
Operation โคSouthern Spear is a โขjoint โtask force initiative โfocused on disrupting and dismantling transnational criminal organizations that exploitโ shared maritime borders and waterways with the United States.
The deployment is widely interpreted as a exhibition ofโข U.S. resolve as the Trumpโฃ administration continues โto increase pressure on the Maduro โขgovernment,tho officials maintain the visit was pre-planned andโข part of routine operations.
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