WILLEMSTAD - Two U.S. Navy warships were observed early this morning sailing in international waters off the coast of Curaçao, within the heavily trafficked maritime corridor between Curaçao and Venezuela.
According to AIS tracking data, the vessels have been identified as US GOVT Vessel 64 – the USS Gettysburg (CG-64), and US GOVT Vessel 106 – the USS Stockdale (DDG-106), both heavily armed U.S. Navy ships operating on a southeasterly course similar to that of the U.S. B-52 bombers active in the Caribbean earlier this week.
The sighting marks another visible increase in U.S. military presence in the southern Caribbean at a time of heightened tensions between Washington and Caracas.
Growing U.S. Presence in the Region
The USS Gettysburg, a Ticonderoga-class guided missile cruiser measuring over 170 meters, is designed for air defense and fleet support operations. The USS Stockdale, an Arleigh Burke-class destroyer, is classified by maritime trackers as a vessel conducting “military operations.”
Both ships reportedly departed from Puerto Rico earlier this week and were sailing parallel to the southern coast of Curaçao around 6 a.m. local time.
The deployment comes as Venezuela and the United States exchange sharp criticism, following months of U.S. naval operations aimed at intercepting drug shipments leaving Venezuelan waters. The Pentagon has recently reinforced its presence in the Caribbean, citing the need to combat narcotics networks linked to the Venezuelan gang Tren de Aragua, which Washington labels a terrorist organization.
Earlier this week, reports confirmed that several U.S. warships — including the aircraft carrier USS Gerald R. Ford, the world’s largest — have gathered off the Venezuelan coast.
Political Concern in Curaçao
The situation has sparked concern within Curaçao’s Parliament, where all faction leaders have asked Parliament President Fergino Brownbill to convene an urgent meeting of the “Senioren Convent” — a confidential session with government and security officials — to clarify the potential security implications for Curaçao and the role of the U.S. Forward Operating Location (FOL) based on the island.
Calm in Willemstad
Despite the increased naval activity offshore, daily life in Willemstad remains calm. The arrival of Venezuelan fruit boats continues without interruption, according to market vendors who say they have noticed little sign of the rising regional tensions.
For now, the Government of Curaçao is closely monitoring maritime activity as military and diplomatic pressures continue to mount across the southern Caribbean.
