Donald Trump has initiated a new phase in the US campaign against drugs by deploying the USS Gerald R Ford, the largest warship globally, to the Caribbean Sea. The US has targeted multiple boats suspected of involvement in drug trafficking in the region. President Trump has accused Nicolas Maduro, the leader of Venezuela, of heading drug-trafficking organizations, a claim refuted by Maduro. Heightened tensions between the US and Venezuela stem from the US not recognizing Maduro as the legitimate leader following disputed elections in 2024.
The deployment of the USS Gerald R Ford, with its immense size and capabilities, could potentially alter the dynamics of the US-Venezuela relationship. President Maduro criticized the US for fabricating a war after the warship’s deployment. The USS Gerald R Ford, measuring 334 meters in length and 78 meters in width, boasts a displacement of 100,000 tonnes, crew capacity of 4,600, and the ability to carry up to 90 aircraft.
Equipped with advanced technologies like nuclear reactors and an electromagnetic aircraft launch system (EMALS), the USS Gerald R Ford can efficiently launch heavier aircraft with more fuel and weaponry. It also houses various types of missiles and aircraft, including helicopters, and can achieve speeds of 35 miles per hour. Despite its impressive features, the warship operates within a carrier strike group for defensive purposes, along with a cruiser, supply ship, and destroyers.
The construction of the USS Gerald R Ford cost a staggering $13.3 billion, making it the most expensive warship globally. Commissioned in 2017, the warship embarked on its first deployment in 2022, signifying its strategic importance in US military operations.