Former President Donald Trump stunned foreign policy watchers during his CBS 60 Minutes interview this month with claims about Taiwan, dismantling drug cartels, and making the United States self-sufficient in critical rare earth minerals. Washington officials still refuse to fully explain whether these are new policies or rhetoric.
The Pentagon confirmed to Military.com that the USS Gerald R. Ford Carrier Strike Group is part of a broader U.S. buildup in the Southern Command region tied to operations against transnational criminal organizations. A recent Military.com report documented the Ford moving into the Caribbean as U.S. forces expand posture near Venezuela. Another Military.com article detailed supporting air and naval movements, including bomber flights and destroyer visits.
A Pentagon spokesperson told Military.com the Ford and its carrier air wing were ordered into Southern Command waters to support operations against narcotics networks. Defense officials offered no estimate for how long the ship will remain on station or what specific actions it has been authorized to take, and it would not say whether additional Navy vessels are joining the mission.
Defense analysts say the mission stands out. Carrier strike groups rarely operate in the Caribbean—a region normally patrolled by Coast Guard cutters, surveillance aircraft and fast-response ships. Military.com reporting shows an unusually large U.S. presence off Venezuela, including bomber flights and destroyer port calls. Without a public mission statement or rules of engagement, experts say the purpose remains unclear.
Stopping Smugglers
Trump tied the carrier deployment to lethal drugs moving through Caribbean smuggling routes.
Military.com asked the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) for recent seizure data and interdiction results. A spokesperson replied that its media inbox is not being monitored daily due to the shutdown, limiting timely public data at a moment when the White House says interdictions are urgent.
For historical scale, a previous Military.com report found that a ramped-up interdiction surge denied traffickers an estimated $2.5 billion.
China regularly flies military aircraft near Taiwan, a pattern tracked by Taiwan’s Ministry of National Defense and covered by U.S. outlets. Venezuela maintains military ties with Russia and Iran, complicating escalation risks in the region. Narcotics traffickers continue to exploit Caribbean sea routes, prompting recurring U.S. interdiction operations.
The Pentagon has not released a public mission statement, timeline or rules of engagement for the Ford’s deployment. Military.com has reported on shifting U.S. posture around Venezuela and force movements in the Caribbean.
Trump’s Taiwan Remarks
Trump refused to commit publicly to defending Taiwan. He recently told CBS News’ Norah O’Donnell they would “find out if it happens.”
Military.com asked the Pentagon and State Department whether U.S. strategy toward Taiwan had changed. The State Department declined to comment and referred questions to the White House, whose spokesperson, Anna Kelly, told Military.com to refer to Trump’s comments.
Pentagon officials pointed to a brief post stating that the U.S. position on Taiwan remains unchanged, but they offered no details on whether Indo-Pacific Command received updated guidance or whether allies such as Japan, Taiwan, Australia or the Philippines were briefed privately. Recent Military.com analysis examined ongoing Taiwan deterrence debates and allied exercises in the region.
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