Supercarrier USS Gerald R. Ford Enters U.S. Southern Command's Area Of Responsibility

Recent US Military Activities Worldwide (as of November 13, 2025). There have been several notable developments in US military operations and deployments around the world over the past week, with the most significant activity centered in Latin America amid escalating tensions with Venezuela. Other regions, like the Middle East, have seen clarifications on rumored deployments but no major new surges. In the administration's effort to be more transparent, there is a myriad of information available. This is an effort to consolidate and summarize the data afforded to us. Below is a breakdown of the key updates, drawn from official statements, news reports, and intelligence briefings.

Latin America/Caribbean:
Major Buildup Against Narco-Terrorism and Venezuelan Tensions The US has intensified its presence in the Caribbean, framing it as a counter to drug trafficking and "narco-terrorism" networks linked to foreign terrorist organizations, though critics and Venezuelan officials view it as preparation for regime change against President Nicolás Maduro. This marks the largest US military buildup in the region since the Cold War era. Carrier Strike Group Deployment: On November 11, the USS Gerald R. Ford Carrier Strike Group (CSG) entered the US Fourth Fleet's area of responsibility (under US Southern Command). The group includes the nuclear-powered aircraft carrier USS Gerald R. Ford (CVN 78) with over 4,000 sailors and dozens of aircraft from Carrier Air Wing 8 (including F/A-18E/F Super Hornets, E/A-18G Growlers, E-2D Hawkeyes, and MH-60 Seahawks). It's supported by Arleigh Burke-class destroyers USS Bainbridge (DDG 96), USS Mahan (DDG 72), and USS Winston S. Churchill (DDG 81), equipped with Aegis systems and vertical launch missiles for air, submarine, and surface defense. The CSG joins the Iwo Jima Amphibious Ready Group and a Marine Expeditionary Unit under a Joint Task Force, aimed at disrupting narcotics trafficking and criminal networks exploiting maritime borders. [Navy.mil]

Secretary of War Pete Hegseth directed the operation to "dismantle Transnational Criminal Organizations" threatening homeland security. [CBSnews.com]

F-35 Deployment and Base Reactivation: The US reactivated a Cold War-era naval base in Puerto Rico and deployed F-35 fighter jets there, alongside thousands of troops, warships, and special operations assets. Over the past two months, US forces have struck at least 21 drug-smuggling vessels, killing around 80 alleged traffickers (with two survivors repatriated).
[military.com +1]

Hegseth warned at a defense summit that the US will "find and kill" traffickers tied to designated terrorist groups. [cbsnews.com]

Briefing on Strike Options: On November 13, senior officials—including Hegseth, Joint Chiefs Chairman Gen. Dan Caine, and intelligence leaders—briefed President Trump on updated military options for Venezuela, including potential land strikes. No decision has been made, but the options were developed with input from the intelligence community (Director of National Intelligence Tulsi Gabbard was absent due to travel). Secretary of State Marco Rubio was at a G7 summit in Canada during the briefing. Venezuela responded by announcing a "massive mobilization" of its forces, including guerrilla warfare preparations in case of a US attack. [cbsnews.com +2]

France has expressed concerns that these operations may violate international law. [fdd.org]

Legal Shield for Operations: The Department of Justice issued an opinion stating that US military personnel cannot be prosecuted for strikes on drug boats in the Caribbean, providing legal cover for ongoing interdictions.

This buildup has fueled speculation of imminent action, with international observers noting the arrival of the world's largest warship (Ford) off Latin America as a signal to Maduro. [theguardian.com]

Middle East:
Denials of New Deployments Amid Ongoing Presence. No new troop surges, but clarifications on rumors: US Central Command (CENTCOM) denied reports of deploying troops to Gaza or establishing a temporary base on its border, following Israeli requests for support in post-ceasefire stabilization. [stripes.com +1]

The White House dismissed these claims outright. The US has proposed a UN-mandated international stabilization force for Gaza, but it faces opposition from Russia and others at the UN Security Council. [washingtonpost.com]

Ongoing operations: US forces maintain a presence to counter Houthi threats in Yemen (under Operation Rough Rider, expanded in March 2025), with a ceasefire holding since May, but experts are warning of persistent risks to shipping. [cfr.org +1]

Regional demonstrations continue calling for US-backed ceasefires and hostage deals. [acleddata.com]

Asia and Europe:
Limited New Activity: No major deployments reported in Asia or Europe this week. Broader November developments include routine alliance exercises and contested airspace patrols in the Indo-Pacific, but nothing escalating to "new" levels beyond standard deterrence. [riotimesonline.com]

In Europe, focus remains on NATO rotations without fresh US surges.

Space and Cyber: The US military is seeking capabilities to track "potential threats" from the moon, per Space Force reports. [@SpringerRC24720]

Separately, Congress warned of Chinese spying on US troops via CCP-linked smart devices like TP-Link routers, urging a ban.

Tech Integration:
OpenAI's open-weight models are being tested for use on sensitive military systems. [@DConsultinguk]

These updates reflect a Trump administration emphasis on "America First" security priorities, particularly in the Western Hemisphere. For real-time developments, monitoring official DoD releases for breaking alerts is advisable, as the Venezuela situation could evolve quickly.