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THE Gerald R Ford Carrier Strike Group (CSG) has arrived in the Caribbean Sea as the US military continues with the largest military build-up seen in the region in decades.

Washington has framed the build-up as combating narco-trafficking but has also been increasing the pressure on Venezuela's president, Nicolas Maduro, whom it believes is an illegitimate leader and is facilitating the illicit trade.

A release from the USS Gerald R Ford on November 16 confirmed the arrival, saying the maritime forces’ operations in the US Southern Command (SOUTHCOM) area of responsibility came at the direction of Secretary of War Pete Hegseth to support the President’s directive to dismantle Transnational Criminal Organisations and counter narco-terrorism in defence of the Homeland.