Author: La Tabla/ Data Journalism Platform 30 AUG 2025
The USS Lake Erie (CG-70), a guided missile cruiser, traversed the Panama Canal on the night of August 29, 2025, moving from the Pacific Ocean to the Caribbean Sea, confirmed witnesses and international agencies. This transit occurs amidst regional tensions and operational contradictions: the vessel is scheduled for decommissioning beginning in September 2025, according to official U.S. Navy plans.
Confirmed Facts:
1. Imminent Decommissioning: The USS Lake Erie, a Ticonderoga-class cruiser in service since 1993, is included in the U.S. Navy’s withdrawal plans for the fiscal year 2025 (ending in September 2025). Its decommissioning will occur at facilities such as the Norfolk Naval Base (Virginia), a common destination for ships reaching the end of their operational life.
2. Transit Through the Panama Canal: The vessel navigated the Pedro Miguel locks around 21:30 (local time) on August 29, after spending two days at Rodman Port (Pacific side). Its confirmed course is toward the Atlantic and the Caribbean Sea.
3. Capabilities and History: The USS Lake Erie is a 9,800-ton cruiser equipped with Aegis guided missile systems, capable of anti-air, anti-submarine, and ballistic missile defense operations. Its usual base is San Diego, California.
The Contradiction: Deployment or Decommissioning?
While the U.S. Navy plans for its decommissioning, Reuters reported on August 25 that the USS Lake Erie and the nuclear submarine USS Newport News were heading south in the Caribbean for a drug interdiction mission near Venezuela, citing “anonymous sources.” This announcement raises questions:
· Logical Consistency: A ship scheduled for scrapping in September would hardly be deployed on a complex operational mission, as this requires costly maintenance and specialized personnel.
· Probable Destination: If the ship follows the usual route for retiring vessels, its final destination would be Norfolk (Virginia) to initiate the decommissioning process. The “drug mission” could be a smokescreen or a symbolic mobilization.
· Geopolitical Context: The U.S. government has accused Venezuela of drug trafficking and offered a $50 million bounty for Nicolás Maduro, yet there is no evidence that an obsolete cruiser is necessary for this mission. Experts point out that already deployed Arleigh Burke-class destroyers are more suitable.
Pattern of Misinformation
Reuters has a track record of questionable reports on Venezuela:
· In 2024, it falsely attributed statements about Venezuelan elections to Trump.
· In 2023, it published incorrect information regarding the cryptocurrency petro.
This case reinforces a pattern of misinformation that inflates military threats to justify geopolitical pressures, utilizing anonymous sources and unverified narratives.
Conclusion
The transit of the USS Lake Erie toward the Caribbean may simply be its final route to Norfolk for decommissioning. The hypothesis of an operational deployment relies on unconfirmed reports from Reuters, which lack transparency and contradict official naval plans. The international community must demand verification of sources before amplifying narratives that could escalate tensions in the region.