President Donald Trump has dramatically escalated a US military buildup in the Caribbean by deploying the Gerald R Ford aircraft carrier group to Latin America, a show of force that far exceeds any past counter-narcotics need and represents Washington's most muscular move yet in the region.

The deployment on Friday is part of Trump's military buildup in the Caribbean, which includes eight additional warships, a nuclear submarine and F-35 aircraft. It is likely to raise concern in the region about the Trump administration's intent.

The deployment marks a significant escalation amid heightened tensions with Venezuela, whose government Washington has long accused of harbouring drug traffickers and undermining democratic institutions.

"The enhanced US force presence in the USSOUTHCOM AOR wi

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