The build-up of US naval forces in the Caribbean, boosted by the recent arrival near Latin America of the USS Gerald R. Ford aircraft carrier, has raised speculation that both the US and Venezuela may be preparing for a larger conflict.
While the US has characterized the build-up as aimed at combating drug trafficking, some experts have questioned why so much firepower is needed if the sole aim is targeting drug boats – noting that the ship’s arrival marks the largest US military presence in the region since the invasion of Panama in 1989.
In addition to the aircraft carrier itself – described as the US Navy’s “most lethal combat platform” – the US has amassed roughly 15,000 personnel in the…
