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The Gerald Ford aircraft carrier strike group has moved into the Latin America region, US officials said Tuesday, dramatically escalating a military buildup that has deepened tensions with Venezuela. President Donald Trump ordered the deployment of the Ford last month, adding to the eight warships, a nuclear submarine and F-35 aircraft already in the Caribbean.The Ford, which was commissioned in 2017, is the United States' newest aircraft carrier and the world's largest, with more than 5,000 sailors aboard.The Pentagon confirmed the arrival, which was first reported by Reuters, saying in a statement it would help "disrupt narcotics trafficking and degrade and dismantle Transnational Criminal Organizations." Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro has repeatedly alleged that the US buildup is designed to drive him from power.Washington in August doubled its reward for information leading to Maduro's arrest to $50mn, accusing him of links to drug trafficking and criminal groups that Maduro denies.The US military has carried out at least 19 strikes so far against suspected drug vessels in the Caribbean and off the Pacific coasts of Latin America, killing at least 76 people.When the US first announced the Ford's deployment, Maduro warned that if the US ever intervened in the country, "millions of men and women with rifles would march across the country."Venezuela is deploying weapons, including decades-old Russian-made equipment, and isplanning to mount a guerrilla-style resistanceor sow chaos in the event of a US air or ground attack, according to sources with knowledge of the efforts and planning documents seen by Reuters.Tensions between the United States and Venezuela's neighbour, Colombia, have also spiked in recent weeks, with Trump and Colombian President Gustavo Petro trading barbs. Trump has called Petro an "illegal drug leader" and imposed sanctions on him. The leftist Colombian president has accused the US of committing "murder" with its strikes.A Reuters visual investigation found the US military is upgrading a long-abandoned former Cold War naval base in the Caribbean, suggesting preparations for sustained operations that could help support possible actions inside Venezuela.The deployment of the Ford, however, is a far more overt demonstration of US military readiness. With only 11 aircraft carriers in the US military's arsenal, they are a scarce resource and their schedules are usually set well in advance — making the Trump administration's surprise announcement last month unusual.The Ford carrier, which includes a nuclear reactor, can hold more than 75 military aircraft, including fighter aircraft like the F-18 Super Hornet jets and the E-2 Hawkeye, which can act as an early warning system.The Ford also includes sophisticated radars that can help control air traffic and navigation.The supporting ships, such as the Ticonderoga-class guided missile cruiser Normandy, Arleigh Burke-class guided missile destroyers Thomas Hudner, Ramage, Carney, and Roosevelt, include surface-to-air, surface-to-surface, and anti-submarine warfare capabilities.

North Korea's defence minister vows 'more offensive action' a day after missile testSouth Korea's defence ministry denounces North Korea's missile testNorth Korea criticises US-South Korea security talks, US carrier visit to BusanUS says missile launch highlights North's destabilising effectNorth Korea’s defence minister No Kwang-chol threatened Saturday to take “more offensive action” as he condemned US security talks with Seoul and the arrival of a US aircraft carrier in South Korea.A day earlier, North Korea fired a ballistic missile towards the sea off its east coast, after denouncing on Thursday fresh US sanctions against North Korean individuals and entities that Washington said were involved in cyber-related money-laundering schemes.South Korea’s defence ministry Saturday condemned the missile launch, while saying the North’s criticism of the US-South Korea meeting was regrettable.No criticised a recent visit by US and South Korean defence chiefs to the border between North and South Korea, as well as their subsequent security talks in Seoul, alleging they were conspiring to step up deterrence efforts towards the North and to integrate their nuclear and conventional forces.“This is a stark revelation and an unveiled intentional expression of their hostile nature to stand against the DPRK to the end,” No said, referring to the country’s formal name - the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea. US Defence Secretary Pete Hegseth said on Tuesday the core of the alliance with Seoul will remain focused on deterring North Korea, although Washington will look at flexibility for US troops stationed in South Korea to operate against regional threats.No also said the visit of the US nuclear-powered aircraft carrier George Washington to South Korea’s southeastern port city of Busan this week following US-South Korean joint air drills with Seoul had escalated tensions on the peninsula.“We will show more offensive action against the enemies’ threat on the principle of ensuring security and defending peace by dint of powerful strength,” No said, according to North Korean state media KCNA.South Korea’s navy said the carrier’s visit was to replenish supplies and grant leave for the crew.While visiting South Korea last week, US President Donald Trump repeated his willingness to sit down with North Korean leader Kim Jong-un. No meeting took place, but Trump said he was willing to return to the region to meet Kim.Last week, North Korea also test-fired cruise missiles to the west of the Korean peninsula just as Trump and other leaders were set to gather in South Korea for regional meetings. Regarding the latest missile launch, the US Indo-Pacific Command said on Saturday that it “does not pose an immediate threat to US personnel or territory, or to our allies”. “The missile launch highlights the destabilising impact” of North Korea’s actions, it added.