Trump Deploys 4,000 Troops To Southern Caribbean In Fight Against Cartels

The United States is deploying over 4,000 Marines and sailors to the waters surrounding Latin America and the Caribbean as part of an intensified effort to combat drug cartels. According to two US defense officials, this deployment marks a significant show of force and provides President Trump with a range of military options to target these organizations.

The deployment includes the Iwo Jima Amphibious Ready Group (ARG) and the 22nd Marine Expeditionary Unit, which are being repositioned to the US Southern Command (SOUTHCOM) area of responsibility. Additional military assets such as a nuclear-powered attack submarine, P8 Poseidon reconnaissance aircraft, several destroyers, and a guided-missile cruiser are also being allocated to the region.

On Friday (August 15), the US Navy announced the deployment of the USS Iwo Jima, the 22nd MEU, and two other ships in the ARG, but did not specify their destination. The buildup is primarily a show of force, aimed at sending a message rather than indicating any immediate intention to target cartels. However, it provides US military commanders and President Trump with a broad range of options for potential military action.

The Marine Expeditionary Unit has been instrumental in past operations, such as supporting large-scale evacuations in the eastern Mediterranean.

The additional assets will support SOUTHCOM for several months, reinforcing the US presence in the western hemisphere. Earlier this year, a memo signed by Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth emphasized the US military's priority to defend the homeland and instructed the Pentagon to address threats such as narcotics trafficking and human smuggling.