The Oldest U.S. Navy Supercarrier Is Now Operating In The Caribbean

BusinessAerospace & DefenseThe Oldest U.S. Navy Supercarrier Is Now Operating In The CaribbeanByPeter Suciu,Contributor.Forbes contributors publish independent expert analyses and insights. Peter Suciu covers trends in the world of aerospace and defense.Follow AuthorMay 20, 2026, 10:10pm EDT--:-- / --:--This voice experience is generated by AI. Learn more.This voice experience is generated by AI. Learn more.view of the nuclear-powered aircraft carrier USS Nimitz, one of the largest warships in the world, anchored in Guanabara Bay in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil on May 08, 2026. (Photo by Fabio Teixeira/Anadolu via Getty Images)Anadolu via Getty ImagesThe United States Navy’s USS Nimitz (CVN-68) is operating in the Caribbean Sea, the United States Southern Command confirmed on Wednesday. She is the first U.S. Navy aircraft carrier to operate in the Caribbean since the USS Gerald R. Ford (CVN-78) was deployed to the Middle East in February.“Welcome to the Caribbean, Nimitz Carrier Strike Group!,” SOUTHCOM wrote in a post on X. “The aircraft carrier USS Nimitz (CVN 68), the embarked Carrier Air Wing 17 (CVW-17), USS Gridley (DDG 101) and USNS Patuxent (T-AO 201) are the epitome of readiness and presence, unmatched reach and lethality, and strategic advantage. USS Nimitz has proven its combat prowess across the globe, ensuring stability and defending democracy from the Taiwan Strait to the Arabian Gulf.”CVN-68 arrived in the region just as the United States Department of Justice announced it had charged former Cuban President Raúl Castro and other Cuban officials with murder for their roles in the Feb. 24, 1996, shoot‑down of two unarmed U.S. civilian aircraft operated by Brothers to the Rescue over international waters.President Donald Trump told reporters that Cuba was on the administration's mind. The United States has maintained a near-total blockade that has resulted in extreme fuel shortages and daily power blackouts on the island. Trump has repeatedly suggeste...