The Trump administration has initiated a significant and unprecedented offensive against the Narco-terrorist cartels in Mexico and other Latin American criminal groups. This offensive, aimed at addressing threats to U.S. national security from specially designated narco-terrorist organizations in the region, is a significant development. The military buildup is a strong message, providing the president with a wide range of options should Trump order military action.
President Trump has directed the Pentagon to prepare operations to confront these organizations in the Caribbean and the Gulf of America region. The administration has already made a significant deployment, with at least two destroyers, the USS Gravely and the USS Spruance, as previously reported by Breitbart News, now in action.
According to a report from CNN, the U.S. military is mounting a significant deployment, with more than 4,000 Marines and sailors, part of the Iwo Jima Amphibious Ready Group (ARG) and the 22nd Marine Expeditionary Unit, being sent to the Gulf of America and the Caribbean. This is part of a ramped-up effort to combat drug cartels, a dramatic show of force that will give the president a broad range of military options to target terrorist drug cartels. The deployment has been underway for the last three weeks.
Fair winds and following seas, USS Iwo Jima
The Wasp-class amphibious assault ship USS Iwo Jima (LHD 7) departed Naval Station Norfolk for a regularly-scheduled deployment, Aug. 14, 2025.#deployment #Ready2Fight #LHD7 pic.twitter.com/NoQM21lOgz
— U.S. 2nd Fleet (@US2ndFleet) August 14, 2025
“The IWO ARG – 22nd MEU (SOC) is an integral part of advancing our nation’s interests abroad and is a dynamic representation of our Navy’s 250 years of lethality and warfighting excellence,” said Capt. Chris Farricker, commodore, Amphibious Squadron 8, in a written statement. “Our integrated Navy-Marine Corps warfighters are ready to execute the nation’s business and deliver quick and decisive combat power no matter where we are tasked in today’s complex global environment.”
The U.S. Navy announced the additional deployment of the USS Iwo Jima, the 22nd MEU, and the two other ships, the USS Fort Lauderdale and the USS San Antonio. A nuclear-powered attack submarine, P-8 Poseidon reconnaissance aircraft, several destroyers, and a guided-missile cruiser are also being allocated to the U.S. Southern Command as part of the mission, showcasing the administration’s comprehensive approach to the issue.
U.S. Navy Landing Craft Air-Cushions (LCAC) onload Marines with the 22nd Marine Expeditionary Unit (22nd MEU) and military equipment aboard the Wasp-Class Amphibious Assault Ship, USS Iwo Jima (LHD-7), in the Atlantic Ocean, enroute to their deployment area in the Southern… pic.twitter.com/DYQf29x4pP
— OSINTdefender (@sentdefender) August 18, 2025
“The IWO ARG – 22nd MEU (SOC) is ready to serve as the nation’s force of choice, prepared to decisively respond to any crisis in support of our national interests,” Col. Tom “Banshee” Trimble, commanding officer, 22nd MEU (SOC) added. “We are warfighters; manned, trained, and equipped to win – anywhere, anytime.”
A memo signed earlier this year by Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth stated that the U.S. military’s “foremost priority” is to defend the homeland by sealing our borders, repelling forms of invasion, including unlawful mass human migration and narcotics trafficking.
The U.S. Navy has deployed the Iwo Jima Amphibious Ready Group (ARG), which consists of the USS Iwo Jima (LHD-7), USS Fort Lauderdale (LPD-28) and USS San Antonio (LPD-17) home-ported in Norfolk, Virginia, alongside several thousand Marines with the 22nd Marine Expeditionary Unit… pic.twitter.com/d9uV2gnynp
— OSINTdefender (@sentdefender) August 16, 2025
The Drug cartels and Mexico’s President Sheinbaum must be feeling the increased pressure of President Trump and his willingness to eliminate the cartels in Mexico that threaten the National Security of the United States. Mexico may soon find out that Trump is no TACO (Trump always chickens out) president.
Editor’s Note: Breitbart News Foundation traveled to Mexico to recruit citizen journalists willing to risk their lives and expose the cartels silencing their communities. The writers would face certain death at the hands of the various cartels that operate throughout Mexico if a pseudonym were not used. Breitbart News Foundation’s Cartel Chronicles are published in both English and their original Spanish. This article was written by “Diego Cervantes.”
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