The US military is sending more than 4,000 Marines and sailors to waters around Latin America and the Caribbean in a heightened effort to target drug cartels, according to two US defense officials. The deployment of the Iwo Jima Amphibious Ready Group and the 22nd Marine Expeditionary Unit to US Southern Command is part of a broader repositioning of military assets over the past three weeks.
The buildup also includes a nuclear-powered attack submarine, P-8 Poseidon reconnaissance aircraft, several destroyers, and a guided-missile cruiser. A third source said the assets are meant to counter threats from designated narco-terrorist organizations in the region.
On Friday, the Navy confirmed the USS Iwo Jima, USS Fort Lauderdale, USS San Antonio, and the 22nd MEU were deploying but did not disclose their destination. Officials described the move as primarily a show of force, though it offers commanders and President Trump a wide range of options for potential military action.
A Marine Corps official said the unit “stands ready to execute lawful orders and support the combatant commanders in the needs that are requested of them.” The deployment follows the March positioning of Navy destroyers near the US-Mexico border to support US Northern Command’s security mission, but the latest assets will remain under Southern Command for at least several months.
