Battle Lines Biggest US military buildup since Cuban Missile Crisis puts Latin America on edge
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Nov 17, 2025 Tom Sharpe, a former British Royal Navy officer with experience in Caribbean drug smuggling operations, joins Carlos Solá, a senior research fellow specializing in Latin American geopolitics. They dive into the significant military buildup around Venezuela, discussing whether the USS Gerald Ford's presence signals an impending invasion or is merely an overreaction. Solá outlines the complexities of U.S.-Venezuela relations and explores how regime change could be perceived regionally, while Sharpe critiques the effectiveness of anti-narcotics strategies and the risks of military escalation.
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Carrier Presence Raises Strategic Options
- The USS Gerald Ford's arrival signals the largest Caribbean military buildup since the Cuban Missile Crisis.
- Its carrier strike group adds surveillance, jets, and logistics that expand US options around Venezuela.
Buildup Increases Miscalculation Risk
- A heavier US force increases risks of miscalculation with Venezuela.
- Tom Sharpe warns that more forces raise the chance of unintended escalation.
Sea Strikes Are Legally And Practically Limited
- Blowing up suspect boats at sea raises legal and effectiveness questions.
- Sharpe argues sea strikes rarely stop drug flows, which originate inland and in demand dynamics.