America First Armada Now Surging to Counter Drug Traffickers – RedState

Exploding speedboats intended for drug trafficking seems like a good idea, especially at a time when a speedboat full of fentanyl can carry enough to kill thousands and thousands of Americans — and at a time when fentanyl overdoses are becoming a serious problem, especially in our urban areas.

The War Department, under Secretary of War Pete Hegseth and at the request of President Trump, intercepted these boats and made their crews aware of Davey Jones’ record. The influx of ships in the Caribbean gives the impression that these efforts are about to intensify.

President Donald Trump has made clear that his administration’s intent in targeting narcoterrorists in the region is to help curb the flow of drugs into the country.

Last month, it was announced that the U.S. Navy’s newest and largest aircraft carrier, the USS Gerald Ford, and its strike group would transit to the SOUTHCOM area of ​​responsibility in the Caribbean.

Before the Ford’s arrival, several warships were already in the region, including the USS Iwo Jima Amphibious Ready Group, according to the American Naval Institute—the Iwo Jima, a Wasp-class amphibious ship, among the largest classes of ships in the Navy.

The Iwo Jima Amphibious Ready Group deployed in August, carrying more than 4,500 Sailors and Marines, according to the Ministry of War. The group includes the Iwo Jima, USS Fort Lauderdale, USS San Antonio and the 22nd Marine Expeditionary Unit.

Earlier this week, the USNI reported that in addition to the group, three Navy guided-missile destroyers are operating in the Caribbean, including the USS Jason Dunham, the USS Gravely and the USS Stockdale. Additionally, the USNI reported that the USS Lake Erie (CG-70) and USS Wichita (LCS-13) are operating in the Caribbean.

This puts a lot of steel between drug traffickers and the United States.

Learn more: Half a million pounds of drugs thwarted: USCG crushes cartels with haul by 2025

But there may be another motivation for this decision. Russia and China have also taken steps in the region, with Russia aligning itself with Venezuela, where many of these illegal drugs come from. My friend and colleague Streiff told us this news earlier in November:

Learn more: Russia is weakening in Venezuela, but does it really matter?

The Secretary of War notes that the War Department is monitoring “near adversaries” in the region. The United States has only two near-equal adversaries: China and Russia.

Hegseth told Center Square last month during a White House event that the War Department was keeping its eyes on adversaries in the region after TCS asked the secretary and president whether they were considering expanding U.S. naval operations in Puerto Rico, particularly Roosevelt Roads, a naval base that closed in 2004.

“We know the place you’re referring to and we’ll make sure we’re properly positioned to deal with whatever contingency we face there, as well as any ways other countries might try to get involved as well, so we can walk and chew gum. We’re certainly keeping our eyes on our close adversaries at the same time,” Hegseth told TCS.

All of this seems to indicate that interdicting drug traffickers will remain the War Department’s top priority in the region. The War Department has remained tight-lipped about precisely how this is done, which is entirely appropriate. The video clips we have seen of drug boats being dismantled by proper application of high explosives give no clue as to the precise munitions used and from what platform they were launched. It’s very good. We don’t need to know that. This is what Admiral Ernest J. King, Chief of Naval Operations and Commander in Chief of the U.S. Fleet, said about the media during World War II: “Don’t tell them anything. When it’s over, tell them who won. »

This is exactly how this sort of thing should be handled. We cannot hide the movements of aircraft carriers the size of small cities; this report proves it. And in some cases it is worth publicizing such a move, because some Third World despots have been known to suddenly begin to speak much more softly when they discover that a US Navy fleet has appeared off their shores.

But the rest? Drug bans? When it’s over, tell us who won.