As the US Navy positions military vessels around Venezuela, China has deployed a hospital ship to Nicaragua—hoping to contrast its display of soft power with American militarism.

The United States military’s buildup in the US Southern Command area of responsibility (USSOUTHCOM AOR) to counter narco-terrorists operating in South America continues. The United States Navy’s San Antonio-class amphibious transport dock USS Fort Lauderdale (LPD-28) arrived at Port of Ponce, Puerto Rico, earlier this month, suggesting that land operations may not be off the table.

The 684-foot-long LPD-28 warship is capable of embarking, transporting, and landing up to 66 officers and 633 Marines on expeditionary missions. It can serve as a modern, sea-based networked platform for amphibious deployments worldwide, capable of carrying up to four CH-46 Sea Knight helicopters, two Landing Craft Air Cushions, one Landing Craft Utility, and 14 Assault Amphibious Vehicles. It can also be used to launch MV-22 Osprey tilt-rotor aircraft or UH-1Y Venom helicopters, enabling the rapid deployment of Marines or conducting seaborne patrols.

“That aviation deck also allows Fort Lauderdale to act as an at-sea launch pad for special operations or Marine FAST (Fleet Anti-Terrorism Security Team) elements, often deployed in boarding or seizure missions targeting cartel-owned or cartel-financed vessels,” Army Recognition explained.

The US Navy’s LPDs have previously been employed for both humanitarian missions and maritime interdiction operations in littoral and near-shore waters. The US military has sunk multiple suspected drug smuggling boats in the Caribbean, as well as in the eastern Pacific, carrying narcotics bound for the United States. 

The USS Gerald R. Ford’s Message to Venezuela

The world’s largest aircraft carrier, the USS Gerald R. Ford (CVN-78), is also operating in the Caribbean, having arrived earlier this week. The carrier arrived in the region with nine embarked squadrons of Carrier Air Wing Eight (CVW-8), operating F/A-18E/F Super Hornet multirole fighters, E/A-18G Growler electronic warfare (EW) aircraft, and E-2D Advanced Hawkeye airborne command and control planes, among other assets.  

In response to the carrier’s arrival in the region, Venezuela ordered a massive mobilization of its forces, The Washington Post first reported this week. Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro repeatedly accused the United States of “fabricating” the ongoing crisis in an effort to topple his government.

A Chinese Hospital Ship Also Arrived in Nicaragua

Even as the United States Navy continues its buildup in the Caribbean, in the Eastern Pacific, a Chinese People’s Liberation Army (PLAN) vessel made a historic port visit to Corinto, Nicaragua.

The hospital ship CNS Silk Road Ark, which Beijing deployed on the “Harmony 2025 Mission” in September, became the first PLAN ship ever to visit the Latin American nation.

“Nicaraguan military and political dignitaries, staff of the Chinese Embassy in Nicaragua, and representatives of Chinese-funded institutions and overseas Chinese, held a welcome ceremony at the dock. During the stop, the Silk Road Ark hospital ship will carry out medical exchanges, visits, and other activities with local hospitals,” the Chinese Ministry of Defense announced.

Beijing began its Harmony missions in 2010 and has deployed naval ships to Southeast Asia, Africa, the South Pacific, and both North and South America, according to Newsweek. The Type 920 hospital ship (NATO reporting name “Anwei”) is one of three built for the PLAN, and it provided its first medical mission last year.

A video of the ship’s arrival in Latin America was shared on social media. CNS Silk Road Ark previously visited Nauru, Fiji, and Tonga. A planned port visit to Mexico is planned for later this month.

About the Author: Peter Suciu

Peter Suciu has contributed over 3,200 published pieces to more than four dozen magazines and websites over a 30-year career in journalism. He regularly writes about military hardware, firearms history, cybersecurity, politics, and international affairs. Peter is also a contributing writer for Forbes and Clearance Jobs. He is based in Michigan. You can follow him on Twitter: @PeterSuciu. You can email the author: Editor@nationalinterest.org.

Image: Wikimedia Commons.

The world’s largest aircraft carrier, USS Gerald R. Ford (CVN 78), sails in formation with the Arleigh Burke-class guided missile destroyers USS Winston Churchill (DDG 81), USS Mitscher (DDG 57), USS Mahan (DDG 72), USS Bainbridge (DDG 96), and USS Forrest Sherman (DDG 98) in the Atlantic Ocean, Nov. 12, 2024. The Gerald R. Ford Carrier Strike Group is underway in the Atlantic Ocean completing Group Sail. Group Sail is the first at-sea integrated phase training event during a routine deployment training cycle. It is designed to challenge the Gerald R. Ford CSG’s ability to use the capabilities of the USS Gerald R. Ford (CVN 78), USS Winston S. Churchill (DDG 81), Carrier Air Wing (CVW) 8, Destroyer Squadron (DESRON) 2, and embarked Information Warfare team as a cohesive Strike Group to meet Navy and Joint Warfighting requirements that increases warfighting capability and tactical proficiency across all domains. (U.S. Navy photo by Mass Communication Specialist 2nd Class Maxwell Orlosky)

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