Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro reaffirmed the nation's comprehensive defense and sovereignty efforts on November 8th, 2025, in response to the United States military deployment in the Caribbean, including the presence of the USS Gerald R. Ford carrier strike group. Maduro's statement, made in Caracas, emphasized Venezuela's readiness to protect its territorial integrity. The US naval deployment, which includes Carrier Strike Group 12 led by the USS Gerald R. Ford, has been observed transiting the region. This activity follows the staging of eight F-35 Lightning II fighters and multiple logistics aircraft at NAS Roosevelt Roads in Ceiba, Puerto Rico, between November 1st and November 2nd, 2025, according to imagery from @Satellogic and analysis from @MT_Anderson. The previous staging of advanced US air assets and logistical support in Puerto Rico indicated preparations for increased military activity in the Southern Caribbean. The positioning of these assets suggests a coordinated air-and-sea command operation in the region.
