The US aircraft carrier Nimitz, as well as escort ships, entered the southern Caribbean Sea on Wednesday and will be staying there for a time as the Trump administration is ramping up pressure on the Cuban government.
US Southern Command posted video of the aircraft carrier entering the region on Wednesday and said, "Welcome to the Caribbean, Nimitz Carrier Strike Group! The aircraft carrier USS Nimitz (CVN 68), the embarked Carrier Air Wing 17 (CVW-17), USS Gridley (DDG 101) and USNS Patuxent (T-AO 201) are the epitome of readiness and presence, unmatched reach and lethality, and strategic advantage. USS Nimitz has proven its combat prowess across the globe, ensuring stability and defending democracy from the Taiwan Strait to the Arabian Gulf."
The move from the Trump administration at the moment is a show of force, and is not currently intended to be used for military operations, per the New York Times. Similar tactics were used by the administration leading up to the raid that captured Nicholas Maduro in Venezuela on January 3 earlier this year.
Over the last several weeks, the Nimtz has been traveling the coast of South America as well as conducting military exercises with Brazil’s navy. However, the arrival of the carrier also coincided with charges launched by the Department of Justice against Raul Casto, the 94-year-old former president of Cuba.
The DOJ unsealed the superseding indictment against him as well as five other co-defendant officials for the 1996 shooting down of a US civilian aircraft that was being operated by Brothers to the Rescue at the time. The organization was conducting humanitarian flight operations when it was shot down by the Cuban regime.
US Southern Command posted video of the aircraft carrier entering the region on Wednesday and said, "Welcome to the Caribbean, Nimitz Carrier Strike Group! The aircraft carrier USS Nimitz (CVN 68), the embarked Carrier Air Wing 17 (CVW-17), USS Gridley (DDG 101) and USNS Patuxent (T-AO 201) are the epitome of readiness and presence, unmatched reach and lethality, and strategic advantage. USS Nimitz has proven its combat prowess across the globe, ensuring stability and defending democracy from the Taiwan Strait to the Arabian Gulf."
The move from the Trump administration at the moment is a show of force, and is not currently intended to be used for military operations, per the New York Times. Similar tactics were used by the administration leading up to the raid that captured Nicholas Maduro in Venezuela on January 3 earlier this year.
Over the last several weeks, the Nimtz has been traveling the coast of South America as well as conducting military exercises with Brazil’s navy. However, the arrival of the carrier also coincided with charges launched by the Department of Justice against Raul Casto, the 94-year-old former president of Cuba.
The DOJ unsealed the superseding indictment against him as well as five other co-defendant officials for the 1996 shooting down of a US civilian aircraft that was being operated by Brothers to the Rescue at the time. The organization was conducting humanitarian flight operations when it was shot down by the Cuban regime.
