The Gerald R. Ford Carrier Strike Group, led by the world’s largest aircraft carrier, USS Gerald R. Ford (CVN 78), entered the U.S. Southern Command area of responsibility (USSOUTHCOM AOR) on November 11, 2025.
The U.S. Southern Command Area of Responsibility encompasses 31 countries and 12 dependencies and areas of special sovereignty. The region represents about one-sixth of the landmass of the world assigned to regional unified commands. USSOUTHCOM´s Area of Responsibility includes the land mass of Latin America south of Mexico, the waters adjacent to Central and South America, and the Caribbean Sea.
U.S. military forces are deployed to the Caribbean in support of the U.S. Southern Command mission, Department of War-directed operations, and President Trump’s priorities to disrupt illicit drug trafficking, according to the officials.
The carrier strike group will augment joint forces already in the area of responsibility, including the Iwo Jima Amphibious Ready Group and embarked marine expeditionary unit, under a Joint Task Force.
Adm. Alvin Holsey , Commander, SOUTHCOM, said the carrier’s deployment represents “a critical step in reinforcing our resolve to protect the security of the Western Hemisphere and the safety of the American homeland” .
Alongside Gerald R. Ford, the Carrier strike group includes nine embarked squadrons of Carrier Air Wing Eight, Destroyer Squadron Two’s Arleigh Burke-class guided-missile destroyers USS Bainbridge (DDG 96) and USS Mahan (DDG 72), and the integrated air and missile defense command ship USS Winston S. Churchill (DDG 81).
The destroyers in company bring anti-air, anti-submarine, and anti-surface capabilities, including the Aegis combat system, missile vertical launch systems, and various large-mount guns. As the IAMDC, Winston S. Churchill leads the strike group’s air and ballistic-missile defense.