Photo credit: Petty Officer 3rd Class Tajh Payne/U.S. Navy
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
I'm seeing the nuclear-powered carrier with 3 escort ships of unknown type. And in the air a B-52 accompanied by 4 F-35s and up above 4 F-16s.
Posted on 11/16/2025 6:56:30 PM PST by deks
The world’s biggest aircraft carrier and largest warship ever built entered the Caribbean Sea on Nov. 16.
U.S. Secretary of War Pete Hegseth deployed the USS Gerald R. Ford to the region as an effort to carry out the Trump administration’s plan to disrupt illicit drug trafficking and dismantle criminal networks that “exploit our shared borders and maritime domains,” according to a Navy statement.
The carrier’s arrival is considered to be an escalating pressure tactic against Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro, who the United States does not recognize as the legitimate Venezuelan leader based on evidence that he stole last year’s election.
U.S. President Donald Trump revealed on Nov. 14 that he has essentially reached a decision on whether he'll take action against Venezuela.
“I mean, I can’t tell you what it would be, but I sort of made up my mind,” Trump told reporters aboard Air Force One on Friday. “We’ll see what happens. I mean, I can’t tell you what it is but we’ve made a lot of progress on Venezuela in terms of stopping drugs from pouring in.”
[Admiral Holsey states it clearly...]
“Through unwavering commitment and the precise use of our forces, we stand ready to combat the transnational threats that seek to destabilize our region,” SOUTHCOM Commander Adm. Holsey said.
“The USS Gerald R. Ford Carrier Strike Group’s deployment represents a critical step in reinforcing our resolve to protect the security of the Western Hemisphere and the safety of the American Homeland.”
(Excerpt) Read more at theepochtimes.com ...
Dear FRiends,
We need your continuing support to keep FR funded. Your donations are our sole source of funding. No sugar daddies, no advertisers, no paid memberships, no commercial sales, no gimmicks, no tax subsidies. No spam, no pop-ups, no ad trackers.
If you enjoy using FR and agree it's a worthwhile endeavor, please consider making a contribution today:
Click here: to donate by Credit Card
Or here: to donate by PayPal
Or by mail to: Free Republic, LLC - PO Box 9771 - Fresno, CA 93794
Thank you very much and God bless you,
Jim
Even the sissy Congress will agree with Trump and the War Department that Maduro croaking out John Lennon’s song “Imagine” is-——
an act of war.
Photo credit: Petty Officer 3rd Class Tajh Payne/U.S. Navy
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
I'm seeing the nuclear-powered carrier with 3 escort ships of unknown type. And in the air a B-52 accompanied by 4 F-35s and up above 4 F-16s.
hmmm... Admiral Holsey, the name has a familiar ring to it
Those look like F-15 fighters
Double vertical stabilizer
Especially upper right - profile looks like F-15s to me
IMHO
Thanks, I was interested in that
I think this is called a “tell”
Might also send a message to the south of the border cartels....
I can’t blow up the photo large enough to tell, but I would have thought the twin stabilizers belonged to F-18s being a Navy Op and all.
Halsey
Yeah - I can’t quite get a good look at the air intakes
But escorting an Air Force bomber...
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.