Why Nicolas Maduro Should Fear the USS Iwo Jima
Story by Brandon J. Weichert • 1h
060829-N-4856C-055.Gulf of Aden (Aug. 29, 2006) – The amphibious assault ship USS Iwo Jima (LHD 7) underway. Amphibious Assault Ships project power and maintain presence by serving as the cornerstone of the Expeditionary Strike Group (ESG). Ships like Iwo Jima transport and land elements of the Marine Expeditionary Brigade (MEB) with a combination of aircraft and landing craft. Iwo Jima recently deployed from her homeport of Norfolk, Va., beginning a regularly scheduled six-month deployed in support of maritime patrol operations and the global war on terrorism. U.S. Navy Photo By Mass Communication Specialist Seaman Christopher L. Clark (RELEASED).
In a potential war with either Nicolas Maduro’s military and/or Venezuela’s massive, powerful drug cartels, the USS Iwo Jima would be instrumental in multi-phased operations.
In the volatile landscape of Latin American geopolitics during the second presidency of Donald Trump, the USS Iwo Jima (LHD-7) has sailed into the fray. This Wasp-class amphibious assault ship—America’s miniature aircraft carrier—was commissioned in 2001 and named after the iconic Battle of Iwo Jima in the Pacific Theater of World War II.
Amid escalating tensions with Venezuela’s socialist dictator Nicolas Maduro over that regime’s alleged support for drug cartels in the region, the USS Iwo Jima could play a pivotal role in any hypothetical US military intervention. With recent US deployments of warships and Marines to the Caribbean targeting Latin American drug cartels, including those linked to Maduro, the ship’s amphibious capabilities positions it as a vital strategic asset in any potential US attack on Venezuela.
Indeed, the importance of amphibious assault ships cannot be overstated in today’s world—especially as the United States and the People’s Republic of China are increasingly marching toward a major conflict with each other. Both sides, in such a fight, would rely upon amphibious landers (amongst other assets) to duel each other on the High Seas.
The USS Iwo Jima’s Specifications
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