December 03, 2025
Image credit: Seaman Abigail Reyes at DVIDS - USS Gerald R. Ford (CVN 78)
USS Gerald R. Ford Aircraft Carrier Departs St. Thomas U.S. Virgin Islands Amid Rising Tensions with Venezuela
St. Thomas, U.S. Virgin Islands — The USS Gerald R. Ford, the world’s largest aircraft carrier, has left St. Thomas after a brief twenty-four hour port call that gave sailors a rare chance to step off the ship and enjoy some rest and relaxation. The visit was part of Operation Southern Spear, the U.S. military campaign targeting drug trafficking networks across the Caribbean, but it also carried symbolic weight as Washington’s attention increasingly turns toward Venezuela.
USS Gerald R. Ford Carrier arrives in St. Thomas 02/12/2025 credit: Heinemann Images
During the stop, sailors filled local shops, restaurants, and beaches, bringing a surge of activity to the island. Navy officials described the visit as a morale boost, noting that even a short break ashore can make a difference for crews deployed for months at sea. Rear Admiral Paul Lanzilotta, commander of Carrier Strike Group Twelve, said the pause provided “the rest and recuperation we need to continue the mission of upholding law and order across the Western Hemisphere.”
Yet the Ford’s departure comes at a moment of growing tension. In Caracas, President Nicolás Maduro has been rallying supporters, dismissing rumors of his flight and vowing to resist U.S. pressure. His government has circulated videos of newly established military zones, portraying them as defenses against possible American strikes. Meanwhile, President Trump has openly declared that “strikes inside Venezuela are going to start very soon,” a statement reported by CNN that has intensified speculation of direct conflict.
Pete Hegseth says he’s going to court-martial me for saying the same exact thing he said 9 years ago. What changed for Pete? Well to start, he spends all day thinking about how he can suck up to Trump. When Trump says jump, he says how high. pic.twitter.com/VnKBfLzmmU
— Captain Mark Kelly (@CaptMarkKelly) December 3, 2025
Meanwhile, back in Washington Secretary of War Pete Hegseth’s handling of recent Caribbean operations, comes under intense scrutiny with lawmakers warning that alleged extrajudicial orders could undermine U.S. credibility just as the crisis deepens. Social Media is awash with resurfaced video images of Hegseth vowing and encouraging not to obey illegal orders from military commanders.
For the sailors aboard the Gerald R. Ford, the twenty-four hours in St. Thomas may prove to be the calm before a storm. As the carrier resumes patrols in the Caribbean, its presence is both a deterrent and a signal. The Caribbean has become the frontline of a confrontation that could soon escalate, with the Ford’s movements watched closely not only in the Virgin Islands but across the region.
