The Trump administration has ordered the deployment of the USS Gerald R. Ford Carrier Strike Group to the Western Hemisphere, continuing U.S. efforts to target suspected drug smuggling vessels in the Caribbean.

Chief Pentagon spokesman Sean Parnell stated on Friday that, “In support of the President’s directive to dismantle Transnational Criminal Organizations (TCOs) and counter narco-terrorism in defense of the Homeland, the Secretary of War has directed the Gerald R. Ford Carrier Strike Group and embarked carrier air wing to the U.S. Southern Command (USSOUTHCOM) area of responsibility (AOR).”

Parnell added, “The enhanced U.S. force presence in the USSOUTHCOM AOR will bolster U.S. capacity to detect, monitor, and disrupt illicit actors and activities that compromise the safety and prosperity of the United States homeland and our security in the Western Hemisphere.” He further elaborated, “These forces will enhance and augment existing capabilities to disrupt narcotics trafficking and degrade and dismantle TCOs.”

USSOUTHCOM’s area of responsibility includes the landmass of Latin America south of Mexico, the waters adjacent to Central and South America, and the Caribbean Sea.

The strike group comprises the USS Gerald R. Ford, identified by the U.S. Navy as the world’s largest aircraft carrier, as well as the Arleigh Burke-class guided-missile destroyers USS Mahan, USS Winston S. Churchill, and USS Bainbridge.

In August, the strike group transited the Strait of Dover, the narrowest portion of the English Channel.

The Trump administration has initiated numerous strikes in the region, aimed at dismantling and disrupting drug cartels.

Most recently, War Secretary Pete Hegseth announced on Friday that a strike on a vessel, allegedly operated by suspected members of Tren de Aragua (TdA) — a Venezuelan street gang designated as a Terrorist Organization (DTO) — resulted in the deaths of six alleged narco-terrorists.

Hegseth posted on X, “If you are a narco-terrorist smuggling drugs in our hemisphere, we will treat you like we treat al-Qaeda.” He continued, “Day or NIGHT, we will map your networks, track your people, hunt you down, and kill you.”

This incident marked the tenth strike targeting suspected drug trafficking boats since Trump returned to office. The president has made combating the nation’s drug crisis a central policy focus.

Trump has accused Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro of being a drug cartel leader, as he continues to increase pressure on the Maduro regime.

Last week, Trump confirmed that he authorized the CIA to conduct covert operations in Venezuela, stating that he did so because the South American nation has released prisoners into the U.S. and that drugs were entering the U.S. from Venezuela through sea routes.

Meanwhile, the military strikes have drawn scrutiny from both sides of the political spectrum, as questions persist regarding their legality.

Senators Adam Schiff (D-Calif.), Tim Kaine (D-Va.), and Rand Paul (R-Ky.) recently introduced a war powers resolution that would prohibit U.S. armed forces from participating in “hostilities” against Venezuela.

Digital’s Diana Stancy provided contributions to this report.