The U.S. Navy’s newest and most powerful aircraft carrier, the USS Gerald R. Ford, is expected to reach the Caribbean early next week, marking a dramatic escalation in the American military buildup near Venezuela amid growing speculation over possible U.S. strikes against Nicolás Maduro’s regime.

The $13 billion supercarrier sailed west through the Strait of Gibraltar on Monday morning, ship-spotters confirmed, making about 15 knots and accompanied by the destroyer USS Bainbridge, according to The Maritime Executive. A U.S. Navy P-8A Poseidon patrol aircraft provided long-range surveillance as the Ford entered the Atlantic, with a supply ship operating nearby. The destroyer USS Mahan, last seen crossing the strait on Oct. 31, is believed to be along to support the carrier force.

At its

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