CARIBBEAN SEA – The USS Gerald R. Ford (CVN 78) Carrier Strike Group has entered the Caribbean Sea, reinforcing U.S. Southern Command’s (SOUTHCOM) mission to dismantle transnational criminal organizations and counter narco-terrorism in defense of the homeland. The deployment underscores the U.S. commitment to maintaining stability across the Western Hemisphere and protecting American security interests.
“Through unwavering commitment and the precise application of our forces, we stand ready to confront transnational threats that seek to destabilize our region,” said Admiral Alvin Holsey, commander of SOUTHCOM. “The arrival of the Gerald R. Ford Carrier Strike Group is a decisive step in safeguarding the security of the Americas and the safety of the American homeland.”
Rear Admiral Paul Lanzilotta, commander of Carrier Strike Group 12, highlighted the carrier’s operational versatility and lethality. “Our nation’s leaders have called upon the Gerald R. Ford because it is the most capable, adaptable, and lethal platform in the world. We will be where it matters, when it matters, to safeguard our nation and strike decisively against narco-terrorism in the Western Hemisphere.”
With more than 4,000 Sailors and dozens of tactical aircraft, the Gerald R. Ford provides combatant commanders with unparalleled strike, reconnaissance, and surveillance capabilities. Its first-in-class design allows simultaneous launch and recovery of fixed-wing aircraft, day or night, ensuring continuous operational readiness. The strike group includes nine squadrons of Carrier Air Wing Eight, Arleigh Burke-class guided-missile destroyers USS Bainbridge (DDG 96) and USS Mahan (DDG 72), and the integrated air and missile defense command ship USS Winston S. Churchill (DDG 81).
The carrier strike group will operate alongside the Iwo Jima Amphibious Ready Group and its embarked Marine Expeditionary Unit under Joint Task Force Southern Spear, a mission designed to detect, disrupt, and dismantle criminal networks exploiting the Caribbean’s maritime corridors. Operation Southern Spear enhances maritime domain awareness, strengthens regional security, and prevents illicit trafficking from reaching the U.S. homeland.
Since departing on June 24, 2025, the Gerald R. Ford Carrier Strike Group has conducted multi-domain operations across the Atlantic, sailed above the Arctic Circle, participated in NATO’s Neptune Strike exercises in the Mediterranean, and made port visits in Croatia, France, Germany, Norway, and Spain. After a westbound transit through the Strait of Gibraltar on November 4, the group entered SOUTHCOM’s area of responsibility, fully prepared to project power and respond decisively to threats.
This deployment reflects a broader strategic posture: combining U.S. naval power, joint force integration, and multinational cooperation to ensure regional stability. The presence of advanced warships, carrier-based aircraft, and integrated command capabilities allows for rapid response, persistent surveillance, and targeted operations against criminal networks that threaten both regional and homeland security.
Operation Southern Spear is a Department of War-directed mission emphasizing decisive action, interagency coordination, and enduring commitment to the safety of the Western Hemisphere. By deploying the Gerald R. Ford Carrier Strike Group, the U.S. demonstrates both the capability and the will to confront transnational threats wherever they emerge.
