Fault Lines Episode 526: Power Projection or Overreach? U.S. Fleet Heads to the Caribbean
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Nov 12, 2025 The discussion kicks off with the deployment of the USS Gerald R. Ford to the Caribbean, raising eyebrows about U.S. motives. Hosts debate whether it's a genuine effort to combat drug trafficking or just a show of force aimed at Venezuela. One host challenges if the military response is overreaching, suggesting alternate strategies might be more effective against land-based narcotics. The episode wraps up with a look at the potential consequences for Maduro's regime, questioning if this bold move could escalate tensions.
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Carrier Deployment Is A Power Signal
- The USS Gerald R. Ford was moved into the Caribbean mainly as a signal of U.S. power rather than because it is the optimal tool to stop drugs.
- Aircraft carriers project deterrence and send a clear message to both cartels and Maduro about U.S. seriousness.
Mismatch Between Tools And Trafficking Routes
- Most fentanyl and cartel shipments travel overland through Mexico, not by sea, limiting the carrier group's direct operational utility.
- Using naval air and drone assets against primarily land routes risks misaligning means and ends.
Protect Intelligence Partnerships
- Avoid undermining international cooperation by conducting operations allies view as legally questionable.
- Preserve intelligence sharing by aligning strikes with partners like the U.K. and Colombia.