Text taken from the Live Journal posting of schneider-krieg
Commentary by Russian military journalist Boris Rozhin is in italics.
[ColonelCassad] An interesting forecast for Venezuela and the deployment of the American fleet off the coasts of Venezuela and Colombia from military historian Ilya Topchy. Regarding the Ford''s approach to the Venezuelan coast (and, most importantly, the fact that it will likely be more than just the Ford). I made this forecast two weeks ago (October 30):
The reason for this post was a report that the US could deploy the aircraft carrier Gerald Ford toward Venezuela. So far, that''s how I see it. The Ford''s carrier strike group was until recently in the Mediterranean (somewhere off the coast of Albania). It may not arrive in Venezuela until mid-November (if it arrives at all).
The Bush and Truman carrier strike groups conducted exercises off the US east coast and returned to Norfolk in October and late September, respectively. If all three carrier strike groups were to deploy and assemble against Venezuela under the vice admiral''s flag, it could create a carrier force consisting of three carriers, three or four cruisers, 10-15 destroyers, several submarines, and other minor details. But that''s just theoretical.
The harsh times will tell how things play out in practice. It looks like it''s starting to come true. In addition to the Ford, which has arrived, the Bush has been off the coast of Florida for several days now for exercises. Theoretically, the Truman could also deploy (it returned from naval exercises a month and a half ago). The Nimitz is also heading west across the Pacific.
Formally, it''s returning from a deployment in the Arabian Sea. However, the Roosevelt, which is currently off the coast of California and could join up with the Nimitz, has departed San Diego for exercises. The last two ("Nimitz" and "Roosevelt") could form a second carrier group off the coast of Colombia, whose air groups would have the opportunity to fly, respectively, via Colombia.
And in Colombia, 9 out of 10 American bases are air bases. It could turn out like against Iraq in 2003. 4-5 aircraft carriers: two in the Pacific and two or three in the Atlantic. Two carrier groups. In total, these groups could be assembled by the end of November.
In total, in a remote war - strikes from the air and sea, with the support of sabotage and reconnaissance groups - the following force structure could be formed (for the US): - up to 150,000 military personnel, up to 1,000 aircraft (half sea-based), several dozen ships. Including 50-60 thousand on ships, 30 thousand in Colombia, the rest from bases north of Venezuela.
We''ll find out soon enough whether Trump will decide on a direct intervention in Venezuela with the aim of regime change and establishing control over Venezuelan oil. Venezuela previously announced a mobilization. SAM systems and radars are on high alert.
More from regnum.ru
The Pentagon presented Trump with plans for potential operations against Venezuela.
Senior US military officials presented President Donald Trump with updated plans for potential operations against Venezuela. CBS reported this on November 13.
It was reported that during a meeting at the White House, Pentagon Secretary Pete Hegseth and Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff Dan Kaine presented military operations plans to Trump. It was noted that the updated plans include strikes against ground targets in Venezuela, but no further details were provided.
It is emphasized that the Washington administration has not made any final decisions on this issue.
On November 1, The Washington Post reported that the United States is increasing its military presence off the coast of Venezuela. The total number of American troops in the region could reach 16,000. The US Navy's largest aircraft carrier, the USS Gerald R. Ford, is expected to arrive off the coast of Venezuela in the coming days, accompanied by five other vessels.