Venezuela Conducts Military Drills, Mobilizes Militia to Defend Against US Aircraft Carrier

The USS Gerald R. Ford aircraft carrier and its strike group entered the U.S. Southern Command’s area of responsibility on Tuesday, November 11, 2025, marking a major U.S. military presence in the Latin American region. The Ford, the world’s largest and most advanced aircraft carrier, is operating with more than 4,000 sailors and dozens of tactical aircraft.

President Trump ordered the deployment last month, adding to an already significant U.S. military presence in the Caribbean that includes eight warships, a nuclear submarine, and F-35 stealth aircraft.

According to the Pentagon, the mission aims to detect, monitor, and disrupt illicit activities, dismantle transnational criminal networks, and stem the flow of narcotics. U.S. forces have recently carried out 17 operations targeting suspected drug-trafficking boats along both coasts of South America, destroying about 20 vessels and killing at least 76 traffickers.

The buildup comes as tensions escalate with Venezuela. Last month, President Trump authorized expanded CIA operations in the country, following earlier discussions about potential military action. In response, Venezuela’s Defense Minister, General Vladimir Padrino López, placed the nation’s armed forces—including its militia and roughly 200,000 soldiers—on full alert. He announced nationwide exercises under “Plan Independencia 200,” describing them as a defense against what he called the “imperialist threat” posed by the United States.

On Wednesday, November 12, Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro signed a new national defense law ordering the activation of “integral defense commands” to coordinate civilian and military forces across the country.

General Padrino accused the United States of “murdering defenseless people” during its anti-drug operations. He himself faces indictment in the District of Columbia on charges of conspiring to distribute cocaine on U.S.-registered aircraft between 2014 and 2019. Prosecutors allege he accepted bribes to allow certain drug flights to pass safely through Venezuelan airspace while ordering others to be shot down.

Several other senior Venezuelan officials are also under U.S. indictment for narcotics trafficking and corruption, including President Maduro, National Assembly head Diosdado Cabello Rondón, and Vice President for the Economy Tareck El Aissami. The U.S. government currently offers up to $50 million for information leading to Maduro’s capture.

Among those charged are former intelligence chief Hugo “El Pollo” Carvajal, who pleaded guilty in June 2025, and ex-general Clíver Alcalá Cordones. Former anti-drug officials Néstor Reverol Torres and Edylberto Molina have also been accused of corruption and narcotics offenses.

The U.S. recently deployed additional F-35 fighters to Puerto Rico and six more Navy ships to the Caribbean, fueling speculation that Washington may be preparing stronger action against the Maduro government. President Trump has not confirmed any such plans but said Maduro’s “days in office are numbered,” citing his alleged ties to the Cartel de los Soles.

The regional fallout has been immediate. Colombian President Gustavo Petro suspended intelligence-sharing with Washington and condemned the U.S. missile strikes on suspected traffickers as “illegal” and “ineffective.” He later accused the U.S. of committing “murder” in its anti-drug campaign.

In October, the U.S. Treasury Department sanctioned Petro, his wife Verónica Alcocer, his son Nicolás Petro, and Interior Minister Armando Benedetti under Executive Order 14059, which targets individuals linked to the global narcotics trade. Treasury officials accused Petro of enabling cartel growth and aligning with Maduro’s narco-terrorist regime.

Nicolás Petro was arrested in 2023 on charges of money laundering and illicit enrichment. He admitted receiving $386,000 from criminal figures, including convicted drug trafficker Samuel “El Hombre Marlboro” Lopesierra, claiming the money was meant for his father’s campaign but acknowledging he kept much of it for himself.

Meanwhile, Congress narrowly voted down a measure on November 7 that would have required President Trump to obtain congressional approval before launching military action against Venezuela. The bill, led by Senators Tim Kaine and Adam Schiff, failed by a 51–49 vote, with only two Republicans joining Democrats in support.

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