Pentagon spokesperson Sean Parnell confirmed via X that Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth ordered the redeployment of the Gerald R. Ford strike group from the Mediterranean to the U.S. Southern Command’s jurisdiction.

In accordance with the President’s directive to defend the nation by dismantling transnational criminal organizations and combating narco-terrorism, Secretary Hegseth has directed the

Pentagon spokesperson Sean Parnell

The Gerald R. Ford and accompanying naval assets are expected to reach assigned positions in the Caribbean in the coming days, according to defense officials.

Focus on the Caribbean

The redeployment follows President Donald Trump’s earlier executive order directing the U.S. military to play a greater role in counter-narcotics missions in Latin America. Washington has long accused regional cartels of fueling drug trafficking routes that impact the U.S. mainland.

The Gerald R. Ford strike group’s presence marks one of the largest U.S. naval deployments to the Caribbean in recent years, signaling a tougher stance on organized crime networks operating across the region.