Stakes rise as Trump deploys world’s largest aircraft carrier to the Caribbean

<p>Expert says military action may be ‘imminent’ in Venezuela, while others suspect deployment is a negotiating tactic</p><ul><li><p><a href="https://www.theguardian.com/world/2025/nov/12/us-venezuela-trump-maduro-drugs-regime-change">Explainer: Is US preparing to attack Venezuela and how has Maduro regime responded?</a></p></li></ul><p>When <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/donaldtrump">Donald Trump</a> started sending warships, marines and reaper drones to the Caribbean in August to torment <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/world/nicolas-maduro">Nicolás Maduro</a>, Venezuela’s president, the US’s former ambassador in Caracas, James Story, suspected the deployment was largely for show: a spectacular flexing of military muscle supposed to force the authoritarian leader from power.</p><p>But in recent days, as the world’s largest aircraft carrier and its strike group powered towards the region and the US president continued to order deadly airstrikes on alleged narco-boats, the diplomat’s thinking has shifted.</p> <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/world/2025/nov/12/trump-caribbean-warships-venezuela-conflict">Continue reading...</a>