Venezuela accuses US of preparing for invasion – Reuters

Reports indicate that the Gerald Ford carrier strike group, which includes a nuclear-powered submarine, eight warships, and F-35 fighter jets, has moved into the Caribbean region under orders from President Donald Trump.

The Pentagon confirmed the arrival of the ships, emphasizing that the mission aims to "halt drug trafficking and dismantle transnational criminal organizations."

Commissioned in 2017, the USS Gerald R. Ford is the largest aircraft carrier in the world, carrying over 5,000 sailors and up to 75 combat aircraft, including F/A-18 Super Hornets and E-2 Hawkeyes.

Venezuela's reaction and rising tensions in region

Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro claimed that the buildup of US military presence is intended to overthrow his government.

Washington, meanwhile, has increased the reward for information leading to Maduro’s arrest to $50 million, accusing him of ties to drug cartels.

US forces have already carried out 19 strikes on suspicious vessels transporting narcotics in the Caribbean Sea and along the Pacific coast of Latin America. According to Reuters, at least 76 people have been killed during these operations.

Maduro previously warned that any US intervention would provoke armed resistance inside Venezuela. Sources report that the country is actively preparing its defenses, relying on Russian-made equipment and planning for guerrilla warfare in the event of an invasion.

Strengthening US military readiness

Experts note that the deployment of the Ford marks the most visible show of US force in the region in recent years.

Reuters also found that the US military is modernizing a former Cold War–era base in the Caribbean, signaling preparations for long-term operations.

The carrier is equipped with a nuclear reactor and advanced radar systems, providing extensive airspace control and navigation support.

The strike group also includes the cruiser USS Normandy and the destroyers USS Thomas Hudner, USS Ramage, USS Carney, and USS Roosevelt, all armed with air-defense, anti-ship, and anti-submarine systems.

Tensions have also risen amid a diplomatic rift between the US and Colombia: Trump accused Colombian President Gustavo Petro of involvement in drug trafficking and imposed sanctions against him, while Petro responded by saying that Washington is “killing people” with its airstrikes.

Venezuelan authorities are drafting response scenarios for a possible US ground intervention, which include forming guerrilla units and preparing for prolonged resistance.

Venezuela has stopped importing ligroin from the US and has resumed purchases from Russia.