America’s floating fortress: Inside the USS Iwo Jima linked to transfer of Venezuela’s Nicolas Maduro

US President Donald Trump said Venezuelan leader Nicolas Maduro and his wife were taken out by helicopter and moved to a US ship. Trump said the couple will be taken to New York to face federal charges. “They’re on a ship, but they’ll be heading into New York. The helicopters took them out,” Trump said.

Trump later confirmed the ship is the USS Iwo Jima. “Yes, the Iwo Jima, they’re on a ship,” Trump said in another phone interview. “They’ll be heading into New York. The helicopters took them out, and they went by helicopter in a nice flight — I’m sure they loved it,” Trump said, as stated by Fox News.

Trump warning to Maduro

Trump added a strong warning about Maduro’s record. “But they’ve, they’ve killed a lot of people, remember that.” Asked about chances given to Maduro, Trump said, “Well, basically I said, you have to give up. You have to surrender”, as stated by the reports. US Vice President JD Vance said Venezuela ignored offers to make a deal.

Vance said Maduro’s capture proves Trump keeps his word, calling him the “newest person to find out that President Trump means what he says.” Vance explained the US position, saying, “The president offered multiple off-ramps, but was very clear throughout this process: the drug trafficking must stop, and the stolen oil must be returned to the United States”, as noted by Eurasian Times.

Vance also said Maduro cannot escape US law. “You don’t get to avoid justice for drug trafficking in the United States because you live in a palace in Caracas.” The USS Iwo Jima (LHD-7) is a powerful US Navy amphibious assault ship now linked to this transfer. The ship is named after the 1945 Battle of Iwo Jima in World War II, one of the fiercest Marine battles ever fought.

Powerful US warship

This is the second US Navy ship to carry the name Iwo Jima; the first served in Vietnam and retired in the early 1990s. The USS Iwo Jima is ferrying Maduro to New York, Eurasian times reported and is currently operating in Caribbean waters, Eurasian Times reported. It pairs with USS San Antonio and USS Fort Lauderdale to lead the Amphibious Ready Group.

The 22nd Marine Expeditionary Unit’s 2000 Marines along with an advanced aircrafts are executing the mission—MV-22B Ospreys, CH-53E Super Stallion helicopters, and AH-1Z attack helicopters. The deployments have been confirmed in the Venezuelan waters by US Navy officials and satellite images.

The USS Iwo Jima works like a small aircraft carrier. It carries jets, helicopters, and boats that can land soldiers and vehicles on shore. The ship was put into service in 2001. It is 844 feet long and weighs about 40,000 tons when fully loaded. It can stay at sea for a long time without stopping. Right now, according to the Eurasian Times, the USS Iwo Jima is a strong show of US military power during a tense time in the region.

FAQs

Q1. Where is Nicolas Maduro now?

He and his wife were taken by helicopter to the USS Iwo Jima and are being moved to New York for US charges.

Q2. What is special about the USS Iwo Jima?

It is a big US Navy ship that carries Marines, helicopters, and jets, working like a mini aircraft carrier.