U.S. Sends Attack Aircraft to El Salvador: Military Escalation in Latin America

In a significant expansion of American military presence in Latin America, the United States has deployed attack aircraft to El Salvador's main international airport, marking an unprecedented escalation in the Trump administration's regional operations. This deployment includes the heavily armed AC-130J Ghostrider gunship alongside reconnaissance aircraft, signaling a dramatic shift in U.S. military strategy throughout the Caribbean and Central America.

The Strategic Deployment to El Salvador

According to analysis of satellite imagery, air traffic control communications, and flight tracking data, at least three U.S. military aircraft have begun operating from Cooperative Security Location Comalapa at El Salvador's international airport. The centerpiece of this deployment is the AC-130J Ghostrider, a formidable attack plane designed to destroy ground and maritime targets using missiles, cannons, and heavy machine guns.

The aircraft are operated by the Air Force Special Operations Command, a specialized unit tasked with conducting sensitive military missions. Joining the Ghostrider are a Navy P-8A reconnaissance plane equipped with advanced surveillance cameras and torpedo capabilities, plus an unmarked C-40 Clipper whose deployment alongside attack aircraft is highly unusual.

"The base is very, very important for soft power, but is clearly being used for hard power today," noted Admiral James Stavridis, former head of U.S. Southern Command, which oversees military operations in El Salvador's region. New York Times

Broader Regional Military Buildup

The El Salvador deployment forms part of an extraordinary U.S. troop surge across the Caribbean that began in late August 2025. The Pentagon has committed approximately 10,000 troops to the region, supported by drones, bombers, and nearly a dozen Navy warships. The deployment will soon include the USS Gerald R. Ford, America's newest and most powerful aircraft carrier.

Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth announced on October 24 that the Ford carrier strike group would deploy to waters off South America to "bolster U.S. capacity to detect, monitor, and disrupt illicit actors and activities that compromise the safety and prosperity of the United States homeland." The Ford can accommodate more than 75 military aircraft and carries over 5,000 sailors. Reuters

Current U.S. Military Assets in Region

• USS Gerald R. Ford aircraft carrier strike group (5 destroyers, nuclear propulsion)
• 8 Navy warships already deployed in Caribbean waters
• 10 F-35 fighter jets stationed in the region
• MQ-9 Reaper reconnaissance drones
• AC-130J Ghostrider attack aircraft in El Salvador
• Multiple P-8A reconnaissance planes
• Over 10,000 military personnel deployed

Counternarcotics Operations and Military Strikes

The Trump administration has justified this military surge as part of counternarcotics operations targeting drug trafficking in the Caribbean and eastern Pacific. Since early September, the Department of Defense has conducted 16 lethal strikes on boats allegedly involved in drug smuggling, resulting in at least 43 deaths.

The strikes have accelerated dramatically—from once every few weeks initially to three attacks in a single week by November. Two recent operations occurred in the eastern Pacific Ocean, expanding the geographic scope of U.S. military action.

"If you are a narco-terrorist smuggling drugs in our hemisphere, we will treat you like we treat Al-Qaeda," Defense Secretary Hegseth stated on social media. "Day or NIGHT, we will map your networks, track your people, hunt you down, and kill you."

U.S.-El Salvador Relations and Strategic Alignment

The deployment to El Salvador represents what is likely the first time a foreign country in the region has hosted U.S. aircraft potentially involved in combat strikes. This reflects the strengthening relationship between the Trump administration and El Salvador's President Nayib Bukele, who has supported President Trump's immigration policies by detaining U.S. deportees at a maximum-security prison.

"In this sphere, they seem so well aligned," observed John Walsh, director for drug policy and the Andes at the Washington Office on Latin America. The Cooperative Security Location Comalapa was established in 2000 for counternarcotics support but had seen minimal activity since 2022, making this deployment particularly significant. PBS News

Venezuela Tensions and Regional Implications

While officially focused on drug interdiction, the military buildup occurs amid heightened tensions with Venezuela. The U.S. has accused Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro of harboring drug traffickers and doubling the reward for his arrest to $50 million. Maduro faces narcoterrorism charges in the United States.

Venezuelan officials have warned that any U.S. military intervention would trigger mass resistance. "The working class would rise and a general insurrectional strike would be declared in the streets," Maduro stated, adding that "millions of men and women with rifles would march across the country." The Pentagon has confirmed that at least four boats targeted in strikes originated from Venezuela.

Last week, the U.S. military flew two supersonic heavy bombers near Venezuela's coast, and Venezuelan forces conducted defense exercises covering 2,000 kilometers of coastline in response to potential American military action.

Congressional Concerns and Legal Questions

The rapid military escalation has raised concerns among lawmakers from both political parties regarding authorization and legal justification. President Trump declared drug cartels to be "unlawful combatants" and stated the U.S. is in an "armed conflict" with them—language invoking post-9/11 legal frameworks.

"I've never seen anything quite like this before," said Senator Andy Kim (D-NJ), who previously worked at the Pentagon and State Department. "We have no idea how far this is going, how this could potentially bring in boots on the ground."

Legal experts and Democratic lawmakers have questioned whether the strikes comply with laws of war, as the administration has provided minimal legal justification for lethal operations against vessels in international waters.

Looking Forward: Strategic Implications

This military deployment represents the most assertive U.S. military posture in Latin America in decades. With the USS Gerald R. Ford carrier group joining forces already in theater, American military presence in the region exceeds any previous counternarcotics effort.

International Crisis Group senior analyst Elizabeth Dickinson suggests the operations send messages extending beyond drug interdiction: "An expression that I'm hearing a lot is 'Drugs are the excuse.' The messaging here is that the U.S. is intent on pursuing specific objectives and will use military force against leaders and countries that don't fall in line."

As the Trump administration continues expanding military operations without extensive congressional authorization or public legal justification, questions persist about the scope, duration, and ultimate objectives of this Caribbean buildup. The deployment of attack aircraft to El Salvador marks a significant milestone in what appears to be an evolving regional strategy with implications extending far beyond counternarcotics missions.

Last updated: November 7, 2025 | Follow for ongoing coverage of U.S. military operations in the region.