U.S. Navy Ford Carrier Strike Group Transits Gibraltar Strait to Reinforce Caribbean Presence.

The USS Gerald R. Ford (CVN 78) transited the Strait of Gibraltar on November 4, 2025, according to a Department of War release. The movement follows a presidential directive to counter transnational criminal networks, with the Ford Strike Group expected to operate under U.S. Southern Command.

The U.S. Navy’s USS Gerald R. Ford (CVN 78), the world’s largest and most advanced aircraft carrier, was photographed transiting the Strait of Gibraltar on November 4, 2025, suggesting the start of a new strategic mission. While the Navy has not confirmed its destination, a Department of War statement noted that the Ford Carrier Strike Group and its embarked air wing were directed to the U.S. Southern Command area of responsibility in support of the President’s order to dismantle transnational criminal organizations and counter narco-terrorism.
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USS Gerald R. Ford (CVN 78), the U.S. Navy’s largest and most advanced aircraft carrier, sails through the Strait of Gibraltar on November 4, 2025, as part of its scheduled deployment with Carrier Strike Group 12. Operating under U.S. 6th Fleet, the carrier supports naval readiness and strengthens U.S. and Allied presence across Europe and Africa. (Picture source: U.S. Department of War)

The redeployment of the U.S. Navy Ford Carrier Strike Group follows a directive from the U.S. Department of War, issued on October 24, 2025, in accordance with the President’s order to dismantle Transnational Criminal Organizations (TCOs) and counter narco-terrorism in defense of the United States. Acting under this directive, the Secretary of War reassigned the USS Gerald R. Ford Carrier Strike Group 12 (CSG-12) and its embarked Carrier Air Wing Eight (CVW-8) from U.S. 6th Fleet to Southern Command’s area of responsibility, focusing on maritime operations in the Caribbean Sea and along the northern coast of South America.

The Ford Carrier Strike Group represents one of the most powerful maritime forces ever assembled. It includes a Ticonderoga-class guided-missile cruiser, several Arleigh Burke-class destroyers, a fast-attack submarine, and Carrier Air Wing Eight, equipped with F/A-18E/F Super Hornets, EA-18G Growlers, E-2D Hawkeyes, and MH-60 Seahawk helicopters. Together, these assets provide advanced air, surface, and subsurface combat capabilities, as well as electronic warfare, surveillance, and anti-submarine operations.

Under its new mission profile, the strike group will enhance U.S. Southern Command’s ability to conduct joint operations with regional allies and interagency partners. These missions include maritime surveillance, intelligence collection, and counter-trafficking patrols designed to disrupt the operations of transnational criminal networks that move narcotics, weapons, and illicit goods across the region.

The USS Gerald R. Ford itself is the first of its class and the most advanced carrier in U.S. history. Its new technologies—such as the Electromagnetic Aircraft Launch System (EMALS), Advanced Arresting Gear (AAG), and next-generation radar and power systems—enable higher sortie rates, reduced maintenance requirements, and improved energy efficiency. These systems allow the Ford to sustain prolonged operations while maintaining readiness across multiple theaters.

The deployment also reflects a broader U.S. strategy to strengthen security partnerships across the Caribbean and Latin America. With its vast operational reach, the Ford Strike Group enhances maritime domain awareness and supports missions that defend U.S. interests, promote regional stability, and deter illegal trafficking activities.

Strategically, this move reinforces the Caribbean Sea’s importance to U.S. homeland defense and maritime trade. The presence of the Ford Strike Group ensures that the United States can project power, monitor critical sea lanes, and respond rapidly to crises within its own hemisphere. It also demonstrates the Navy’s ability to reposition high-value assets to meet evolving global challenges, from counter-narcotics operations to humanitarian support.

The transition from the U.S. 6th Fleet to U.S. Southern Command illustrates the Navy’s adaptability in addressing both traditional and non-traditional security threats. The Ford’s redeployment aligns with the Pentagon’s integrated deterrence strategy, combining advanced technology, regional cooperation, and persistent presence to safeguard U.S. and Allied interests.

Written by Alain Servaes – Chief Editor, Army Recognition Group
Alain Servaes is a former infantry non-commissioned officer and the founder of Army Recognition. With over 20 years in defense journalism, he provides expert analysis on military equipment, NATO operations, and the global defense industry.