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President Donald Trump escalated a U.S. military buildup in the Caribbean, ordering the Gerald Ford carrier group to Latin America in what officials call a counter‑narcotics push and a show of force. Pentagon spokesperson Sean Parnell said the expanded presence will help detect and disrupt illicit actors, though he gave no timeline; days ago the Ford was transiting near the Strait of Gibraltar. The deployment—alongside eight warships, a nuclear submarine and F‑35s—follows 10 strikes on alleged drug vessels since early September that killed about 40 people, some Venezuelan, stoking regional unease over Washington’s intent.

Prepared by Rachel Morgan and reviewed by editorial team.