The USS Iwo Jima is a U.S. Navy warship that is currently carrying Venezuela’s former leader Nicolas Maduro and his wife to New York. US President Donald Trump said they were taken by helicopter to the ship and are now being moved to face federal charges in the United States.
Trump confirmed that Maduro and his wife are aboard the USS Iwo Jima. He said he had told Maduro to surrender and give up. US Vice President JD Vance said Venezuela ignored chances to make a deal and claimed Maduro is wanted for drug trafficking and stolen oil. He said living in Caracas does not protect someone from US law.
The USS Iwo Jima is named after the Battle of Iwo Jima in World War II. It is the second US Navy ship with this name. The first ship served in the Vietnam War and was retired in the 1990s.
As of early January 2026, the USS Iwo Jima is operating in the Caribbean Sea, close to Venezuela. It is the main ship of its Amphibious Ready Group and usually sails with other support ships.
The ship carries around 2,000 US Marines from the 22nd Marine Expeditionary Unit. It also has aircraft like MV-22B Ospreys, CH-53E Super Stallion helicopters, and attack helicopters. The group has been doing patrols, drills, and live-fire exercises in the region since mid-2025.
USS Iwo Jima
The USS Iwo Jima is a Wasp-class amphibious assault ship. These ships work like small aircraft carriers. They can launch jets, helicopters, and landing craft. They are used to move troops, vehicles, and supplies and can also act as command centers.
The ship entered service in 2001. It is about 844 feet long and weighs around 40,000 tons when fully loaded. Its current aircraft group includes Harrier jets, Ospreys, heavy helicopters, and utility helicopters.
The USS Iwo Jima’s role in moving Maduro has put the ship in the spotlight during a tense time in the region.
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