Assets In Place For Expanded US Military Action Against Venezuela

PAUL’S DEFENSE BRIEF (PDB) – America’s most advanced U.S. aircraft carrier, and the world’s largest, is expected to reach waters off Venezuela in days, a flex of U.S. military power not seen in Latin America for generations.

Experts disagree on whether U.S. warplanes will catapult off the USS Gerald R. Ford to bomb targets inside Venezuela and further pressure its authoritarian leader, Nicolás Maduro, to step down.

Still, whether it may serve that purpose or only patrols the Caribbean as the U.S. blows up drug boats, the presence of the 100,000-ton warship alone is sending a message.

“This is the anchor of what it means to have U.S. military power once again in Latin America,” said Elizabeth Dickinson, with the International Crisis Group.

“And it has raised a lot of anxieties in Venezuela but also throughout the region.  I think everyone is watching this with sort of bated breath to see just how willing the U.S. is to really use military force.”

Meanwhile, the U.S. is also launching major new military and surveillance campaign, ‘Operation Southern Spear,’ in Western Hemisphere, deploying an unprecedented mix of robotic air and sea vessels to counter Latin American drug cartels.

And, U.S. military conducted 20th lethal strike against a drug-trafficking boat, killing four “narco-terrorists” in the Caribbean Sea.

All this, as senior military officials presented Trump with updated options for potential operations in Venezuela, including strikes on land.

FOR YOUR EYES ONLY – Here’s a roundup of today’s other top defense news from conservative national security expert PAUL CRESPO.

Not the President’s Daily Brief, but almost as good – PAUL’S DEFENSE BRIEFING – the PDB:    

NATIONAL SECURITY

Colombia’s leftist president Gustavo Petro, considered by Trump as being complicit in his country’s drug trade, ordered his nation’s security forces to stop sharing intelligence with the U.S. until the Trump administration stops its strikes on drug traffickers in Caribbean.

Canada’s domestic spy agency says Russia and China have a “significant intelligence interest” in Canada’s Arctic, and are ramping up targeting both the country’s government and its private sector there.

U.S. allies have long balanced between leaning on American leadership and resisting its immense gravitational pull. For numerous reasons, breakthroughs, standards, and even vocabulary of “innovation” often originate in Washington, shaping global technology ecosystems that smaller partners must adapt to rather than direct.

HOMELAND SECURITY & DEFENSE

Unauthorized drone flights over U.S. military installations, border facilities and mass public events are climbing to unprecedented levels, prompting warnings that the country faces an escalating aerial security risk while it remains hamstrung by patchwork of airspace protection capabilities.

DEFENSE POLITICS

Congress voted to reopen the government, funding it at previous fiscal year levels until Jan. 30. What does that mean for defense?

US POWER OVERSEAS

Marine Corps temporarily deployed a unit of surveillance drones to support Philippine maritime security efforts in South China Sea.

CHINA THREAT

China began sea trials of its most advanced amphibious assault ship a week after commissioning its latest aircraft carrier as part of its rapid navy modernization.

RUSSIA THREAT

Russia has created new drone branch of military, called Unmanned Systems Forces (USF), to oversee production, operation, and testing of uncrewed systems and the tactics and techniques for using aerial, land and surface drones.

Russia’s security service claimed it foiled plot by Ukraine to assassinate a high-ranking Kremlin official inside Russia as alleged target visited graveyard.

Three Russian Navy ships arrived in Yangon to kick off annual “Marumex” exercise, where Russian Navy will join Myanmar Navy in the Andaman Sea.

Nordic and Baltic countries are teaming up to pay for $500 million U.S. military support package of weapons and munitions for Ukraine.

NATO allies are strengthening their anti-submarine capabilities in Baltic Sea; a region whose infrastructure network makes it susceptible to Russian gray zone tactics threatening Europe’s security.

Netherlands and other European NATO partners are scrapping plans to buy six Boeing E-7 Wedgetail aircraft to replace alliance’s fleet of aging Boeing E-3A airborne warning and control systems.

MIDDLE EAST THREATS

U.S. pushes UN Security Council to back Gaza plan as Russia offers counter text, warning that Palestinians could suffer “grave consequences” if it did not back its plan soon.

Israel’s short but destructive summer war against Iran and its brazen military strikes on Doha have reignited a debate across Middle East over the value of nuclear deterrence. Gulf states also now worry that Israel’s aggression could push Iranian leadership to make leap to a bomb to prevent regime change.

Attacks by Al-Shabaab and Houthis in Red Sea, war in Sudan, and Ethiopia’s ambitions are pushing Egypt to take lead to restore region’s strategic balance and spur development.

NORTH KOREA THREAT

U.S. and South Korea to ‘move forward’ on building nuclear-powered submarines, as U.S. supports Seoul’s bid to secure uranium enrichment and spent nuclear fuel reprocessing capabilities.

Secret drone flights from South Korea to Pyongyang were part of ploy by former president to rattle North Korea’s leader, South Korean prosecutors have alleged as they released new details of plot they say preceded foiled attempt to declare martial law.

SPACE THREATS

Frogs in space – France announces almost $5 billion in new military space funding between 2026 and 2030.

Lux Aeterna is attracting growing interest from across U.S. government for heat shield technology designed to make satellites fully reusable, securing two partnership agreements since emerging from stealth in June.

Slingshot Aerospace has been selected by UK Space Agency to deliver a global optical sensor network that will expand the UK’s ability to track satellites and rising orbital debris.

INTERNATIONAL SECURITY

French authorities have provided first real look at latest version of Air-Sol Moyenne Portee (ASMP; or Medium-Range Air-to-Surface) ramjet-powered, nuclear-armed cruise missile, the ASMPA-Renove (ASMPA-R) variant.

Japan offered first look at damage to target ship after it was hit by projectiles fired from a prototype electromagnetic railgun in testing earlier this year.

Anduril and UAE’s state-owned Edge Group are betting on a novel hover-to-cruise autonomous aircraft — and UAE has already ordered first 50 units.

US MILITARY

Air Force is adopting a new methodology for how it counts its fighter force, boosting overall numbers. But the new method, which lumps together primary and attrition reserve aircraft, paints rosier picture of the force that could ultimately undermine the service’s case for modernization funds.

Air Force uses AI to plan storage for munitions, not just weapons systems and generative AI.

Air Force is updating its dress and personal appearance guidance, with handful of changes intended to raise morale slated to take effect Friday.

Navy met over 99% of its retention goals in Fiscal Year 2025.

Joby Aviation and L3Harris Technologies have conducted first test flight of autonomous hybrid vertical takeoff and landing aircraft, which they hope to sell to Pentagon for operational use.

END of PDB

The opinions expressed in this article are those of the author and do not necessarily reflect the positions of American Liberty News.

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