4,500 Marines and sailors deploy to Caribbean for anti-cartel mission
The Iwo Jima Amphibious Ready Group and the 22nd Marine Expeditionary Unit will be part of a show of force in the waters around Latin America.
Nicholas Slayton
Aug 18, 2025 2:35 PM EDT

The Iwo Jima Amphibious Ready Group and the 22nd Marine Expeditionary Unit are going to the southern Caribbean in a show of force. Marine Corps photo by Cpl. Maurion Moore.
The Navy and Marine Corps deployed thousands of sailors and Marines to the southern Caribbean on Friday in support of anti-drug cartel operations.
The Iwo Jima Amphibious Ready Group and the 22nd Marine Expeditionary Unit set sail out of Naval Station Norfolk on Aug. 14. The force includes more than 4,500 sailors and Marines on three ships: The Wasp-class amphibious assault ship, the USS Iwo Jima, and San Antonio-class amphibious transport dock ships the USS San Antonio and USS Fort Lauderdale.
The Navy described it as a “regularly scheduled deployment” and did not specify where it would be heading or for what purpose.
However, Reuters and CNN both reported, citing defense officials familiar with the operation, that the Iwo Jima Amphibious Ready Group (ARG) is heading to the southern Caribbean as part of anti-drug trafficking efforts. A defense official familiar with the situation confirmed those reports to Task & Purpose.
The Iwo Jima ARG and the 22nd Marine Expeditionary Unit (MEU) are part of a wider repositioning of air and naval forces to the waters around Latin America in a show of force. In addition to the Iwo Jima Amphibious Ready Group’s ships and air power — including AV-8B Harriers and rotary aircraft — P-8 Poseidon spy planes, a submarine, and a warship are set to head to the region as part of that effort, per Reuters. 
source: https://taskandpurpose.com/news/navy-marine-anti-cartel-mission/