It is not common for the powerful aircraft carriers of the United States to be deployed in the Caribbean area. The most recent movement of that type took place at the end of 2025 when the next-generation aircraft carrier USS Gerald R. Ford (CVN-78) was stationed near the coasts of Venezuela, within the framework of the war that President Donald Trump declared on drug trafficking.
After the capture and extraction of Venezuelan dictator Nicolas Maduro in Caracas, the Gerald R. Ford headed to the Middle East to participate in operations linked to the war against Iran. But now the United States announced the deployment of the aircraft carrier USS Nimitz near Colombia and other countries.
The aircraft carrier Nimitz will not sail alone
The movement of this second vessel is part of the Southern Seas 2026 deployment of the Naval Forces of the United States Southern Command. The aircraft carrier USS Nimitz, of the Nimitz class, will be deployed in the area of responsibility of the United States Southern Command.
The Nimitz and the guided missile destroyer USS Gridley, of the Arleigh Burke class, are expected to carry out passing exercises and operations at sea with the maritime forces of allied countries, while they circumnavigate the South American continent. All of this must be part of the new National Security Strategy, with which the Trump government seeks to ensure the supremacy of the United States in the hemisphere.
Southern Seas 2026 (the eleventh realization of this exercise in the region since 2007) will include exchanges of experts and will provide the opportunity for distinguished visitors from allied nations to closely observe aircraft carrier operations. But this goes further: just as in previous operations, this edition will promote mutual cooperation, will consolidate naval alliances, will effectively confront emerging threats and will reinforce the cohesion of our team.
This is how meetings have been planned with Argentina, Brazil, Chile, Colombia, Ecuador, Peru, Mexico, El Salvador, Guatemala and Uruguay, with port visits planned in Brazil, Chile, Panama and Jamaica. All those countries will feel why the aircraft carriers of the Nimitz class are the maximum expression of the strategic projection of naval air power and of the operational presence of the United States.
The objective is to strengthen maritime alliances
According to official data of the United States, no other war system equals its capacity for immediate reaction, its notable autonomy, its integral power in multiple domains, its deep understanding of the combat environment nor its advanced command and control functions, proper of an aircraft carrier strike group together with its embarked air wing.
Rear Admiral Carlos Sardiello, commander of the Southern Command of the Naval Forces of the United States, explained the operation in this way: “The Southern Seas 2026 deployment offers a unique opportunity to improve interoperability and increase competence with the forces of our partner nations across the entire maritime domain.”
“Deployments like this demonstrate our unwavering commitment to guarantee a safe and stable Western Hemisphere,” added Rear Admiral Sardiello. “This mission is a brilliant example of our dedication to strengthen maritime alliances, generate trust and work together to counter common threats.”