US redirects USS Ford to Caribbean amid massive military buildup off Venezuela
October 25, 2025
In a dramatic development in the US’s buildup of its forces in the Caribbean, the USS Ford aircraft carrier strike group has been redirected from the Mediterranean Sea to the US Southern Command (SOUTHCOM). This comes as the US confronts Venezuela, ostensibly to confront drug smuggling.
US deploys USS Ford to Caribbean
Yesterday, the Trump Administration ordered the newest US carrier, the USS Gerald R. Ford (CVN-78), to deploy to the Caribbean in a major escalation in its military buildup around Venezuela.
Forged in training. Ready for any mission. ⚓️
— U.S. Navy (@USNavy) October 20, 2025
USS Gerald R. Ford Carrier Strike Group transits the Strait of Gibraltar in the @USNavyEurope area of operations. pic.twitter.com/yywRoXogjk
The supercarrier will be accompanied by the rest of her strike group, which currently includes the Arleigh Burke-class destroyers USS Mahan (DDG-72), USS Winston S. Churchill (DDG-81), and USS Bainbridge (DDG-96). Carriers are also accompanied by a submarine.
Carrier Air Wing 8 is embarked on the massive ship. The Ford is currently not certified to operate F-35C squadrons (that will come in its mid-life refit) and is restricted to operating F/A-18 Super Hornets.
Subordinate units include four Super Hornet squadrons, two MH-60S Seahawk squadrons, one EA-18G Growler squadron, one E-2D Hawkeye early warning squadron, and one C-2A Greyhound logistics support squadron.
🚨 U.S. "enhances force presence" in SOUTHCOM and redirects the Gerald R. Ford Carrier Strike Group – the "most capable, adaptable, and lethal naval mission package in the world" – from Europe to the U.S. Southern Command AOR.
— Ian Ellis (@ianellisjones) October 24, 2025
Aircraft carrier USS Gerald R. Ford (CVN 78),… pic.twitter.com/JUvF0ULWUO
It will likely take around a week for the USS Ford strike group to arrive in the Caribbean as it crosses the Atlantic. It was last seen traveling through the Strait of Gibraltar a few days ago.
The dramatic buildup of US forces in the Caribbean
According to Reuters, the US has already deployed eight warships, a nuclear submarine, and F-35 stealth fighters in the region. Open source intelligence reveals these warships include two Iwo Amphibious Ready Groups.
Additionally, AC-130J Ghostrider gunships have been observed arriving in the region, and the US Air Force has patrolled near Venezuelan airspace with B-52 and B-1 bombers. The B-52s were escorted by F-35s from Marine Fighter Attack Squadron 225.
📍José Aponte de la Torre Airport, #UnitedStates (🇺🇸)
— SA Defensa (@SA_Defensa) October 10, 2025
Yesterday, the @usairforce AC-130J Ghostrider (#: 16-5837) was spotted by Omar Y. Perez. on October 9th.
The AC-130J was spotted equipped with wing mounted AGM-114 Hellfire missiles. pic.twitter.com/JnVV6RUo9j
The buildup comes as the US continues to frame the regime in Caracas as a ‘narco terrorist organization.’ After weeks of destroying suspected high-speed drug smuggling speed boats in international waters off the coast of Venezuela, there are increasing signals in Washington that landstrikes could be next.
Venezuelan President Maduro to Trump:
— Open Source Intel (@Osint613) October 24, 2025
“Not war. Not war. Not war.
Just peace. Just peace. Just peace, forever.
Peace forever.
No crazy war.
No chaos, no madness, no war.
Please, please, please…
Just peace. Peace forever. Peace forever.” pic.twitter.com/og83ZfIkXQ
The US buildup is being taken seriously by Venezuela. The country is mobilizing what military capabilities it has and has offered extensive concessions to the US. On Friday, de facto Venezuelan President Maduro pleaded in broken English to Trump, “Not war, not war. Yes peace, yes peace. No crazy war, please, please, please.”
Venezuela’s atrophied air force
At one point, the Bolivarian Military Aviation of Venezuela responded by scrambling a lone F-16 to intercept the B-52 bombers. After decades of US sanctions and a collapsed economy, the Venezuelan air force has atrophied into a shell of its former self. Venezuelan state TV often shows the same handful of operational fighter jets over and over again.
In its 2025 review, FlightGlobal listed Venezuela as having three F-16s and 21 Su-30s available, although actual combat-worthy numbers are likely lower.
Open source intelligence expert, Latin American Military Aviation’s analysis of available images suggests around three F-16s may be combat-ready, although that number could be as low as one. Latin also says “entirely possible that 5 [Su-30] aircraft are operational with cannibalization or parts supplied by Russia.”
Quick Reaction Alert is a demanding tasking that tests aircraft, pilots and ground personnel – the two or three (maybe even one) operational F-16's the Aviación Militar Bolivariana has are woefully inadequate for this as today's activity illustrates.#Venezuela #B52 pic.twitter.com/L3oB3Ermdx
— Latin American Military Aviation (@LatinMilAv) October 15, 2025
Any air clash between the US and Venezuela would not be a fair fight. The USS Ford alone possesses many times more firepower than Venezuela’s air force or even many or most of the world’s air forces.
Featured Image: USS Ford
