The Americas Quarterly Podcast Understanding Trump’s Military Buildup in Latin America
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Oct 30, 2025 
Ryan Berg, director at the Center for Strategic and International Studies, delves into the U.S. military buildup in the Southern Caribbean under the Trump administration. He explores the real motives behind the deployment of the USS Gerald R. Ford and whether it targets drug cartels or pressures Maduro. Berg highlights the complexities within the Venezuelan military and the risks of military action, including potential unintended consequences and impacts on U.S.-Colombia relations. He also touches on the rising influence of China in the region.
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Carrier Deployment Raises Stakes
- Deploying the USS Gerald R. Ford to the Southern Caribbean signals a potential shift from pure counter-narcotics to higher-risk military options.
- Ryan Berg suggests this move may force President Trump into a short, decisive kinetic campaign or regime-pressure actions.
Targets Reveal The True Objective
- If strikes occur, target choice will reveal the mission: criminal camps versus dual-use military-drug facilities.
- Hitting dual-use sites would increase risk but attack the criminal-state nexus at the heart of Venezuela.
Regime Collapse Versus Regime Change
- Distinguish between regime change (Iraq-style invasion) and regime collapse (external pressure catalyzing internal change).
- Strikes could catalyze a collapse but leave the U.S. little control over outcomes.