In the realm of international politics and military strategy, President Trump is once again on the move, navigating the geopolitically tricky waters of trade and military posturing. Currently, he’s en route to Asia, embarking on a five-day whirlwind tour with heavy-hitting stops in Malaysia, Japan, and South Korea, all amidst negotiations with the big cheese himself, President Xi Jinping of China. Just as dramatic as the trip to Asia is the abrupt farewell to Canada in trade talks. Perhaps saying, “who needs maple syrup when we’ve got minerals galore!”

While this is playing out, Trump’s administration is ramping up America’s show of strength by dispatching the world’s largest aircraft carrier to the Caribbean. This grandiose naval maneuver comes as a response to what the administration has labeled as the menace of narco-trafficking. The White House isn’t playing when it refers to drug cartels as the “ISIS of the Western Hemisphere.” The aim here is clear: America’s backyard is no place for these kingpins, and there’s a strong desire to rid the Western Hemisphere of any communist and drug influences, clearly spelling it out for China and Russia.

Now, back to that trans-Pacific trip where the main event is a face-to-face with Xi Jinping. The stakes are sky-high amid a trade war with tariffs flying like confetti. Trump is determined to talk up Taiwan, even if it means rattling a few cages. Everyone knows the real showdown isn’t just about who trades what, but about who calls the shots in the region. Between discussions on Taiwan and ensuring American farmers stay happy, it seems there’s a lot on the dinner plate. The intrigue over what happens next is as thick as Beijing smog.

Meanwhile, in the Caribbean, the deployment of the advanced strike group has been likened to a modern-day application of the Monroe Doctrine, now dubbed the “Donroe Doctrine.” The idea is straightforward: as narcotics and nasty regimes try to cozy up in America’s neck of the woods, Uncle Sam isn’t about to sit idly by. This has Venezuela’s Nicolas Maduro accusing the U.S. of fabricating a conflict, which sounds almost endearing if it weren’t such a tired refrain.

According to several political observers, sending an aircraft carrier like the Gerald Ford is no subtle hint. It’s a glaring neon sign that says, “Don’t mess with us.” With a fleet equipped with destroyers and a nuclear submarine, there’s enough firepower here to make sure that any intentions of mischief by drug lords or foreign powers are adequately squashed. While one portion of the world is focused on straitjacketing trade negotiations, the other is about dealing with the reality that Trump is on a crusade to reinforce and possibly reinvigorate the U.S.’s footprint in its own hemisphere. It appears the message is clear: The free world doesn’t need China controlling ports or drug lords shipping misery ashore. The president seems determined to sweep up the neighborhood, and it’s about time someone did.