4,500 Marines and sailors deploy to Caribbean for anti-cartel mission
Nicholas Slayton
Mon, August 18, 2025 at 2:35 PM EDT
2 min read
U.S. Marines with the 22nd Marine Expeditionary Unit (Special Operations Capable), and U.S. Navy sailors with the San Antonio-class amphibious transport dock ship USS San Antonio (LPD 17), Iwo Jima Amphibious Ready Group, prepare to depart for deployment during a man the rails ceremony aboard the San Antonio while in port at Naval Station Norfolk, Virginia, August 14, 2025. This ceremony signifies that the IWO ARG and 22d Marine Expeditionary Unit (Special Operations Capable) are officially underway for their regularly scheduled deployment. (U.S. Marine Corps photo by Cpl. Maurion Moore)
==The Iwo Jima Amphibious Ready Group and the 22nd Marine Expeditionary Unit are going to the southern Caribbean in a show of force.
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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.
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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.