War secretary sends aircraft carrier to target alleged drug smuggler in Latin America

War Secretary Pete Hegseth announced Friday that the U.S. military will deploy an aircraft carrier to the waters off South America, in the latest escalation and military campaign to target alleged drug smugglers and the Trump administration's pressure campaign against Latin American governments.

A statement from Pentagon spokesman Sean Parnell says Hegseth directed the Gerald R. Ford Carrier Strike Group and embarked carrier air wing to the U.S. Southern Command (USSOUTHCOM) area of responsibility.

The Pentagon said this action was taken in support of "the President’s directive to dismantle Transnational Criminal Organizations (TCOs) and counter narco-terrorism in defense of the Homeland."

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