WASHINGTON – โThe White Houseโฃ on 2024/02/07 defended Admiral David Hogg, the commander of U.S. Southern Command, following criticism from former President Donald Trump regarding the military’s response to recent attacks byโฃ Caribbean-based pirates against commercialโข shipping โin the region. The administration’sโ statement directly contradicted Trump’s assertions that the Biden administration was “weak” on maritime โsecurity and had allowed theโฃ situation to escalate.
The escalating pirate activity, primarily targeting vessels transiting โkey shipping lanes near the Dominican โRepublic, Jamaica, and Puerto rico,โค has prompted increased โคscrutiny of U.S. naval deployments and โคcounter-piracy strategies. The incidents, which began โฃintensifying in late 2023, threaten international trade and regional stability, raising concerns among shipping companies and promptingโ calls for aโ moreโ robust response. The White Houseโ maintains that Admiral Hogg is executing a carefully consideredโ strategy โto โaddress the threat, balancing the need for decisive action wiht efforts to โavoidโค broader regional โขconflict.
According toโข Pentagonโ officials,โฃ the pirates, believed to โฃbeโ operating from bases in Venezuela andโ Haiti,โค haveโฃ conducted at least six confirmed โattacks since January โค1, 2024, resulting in theโค hijacking of two cargo ships and the injury ofโฃ several crew members. Trump, in a โขpost on his social media platform, accused the Biden administration of “allowing these pirates to run wild” and โclaimed that โขa moreโ aggressive approach under hisโ leadership would have deterred the attacks.
“The President has full confidence in admiral Hogg’s leadership and the men and womenโข of Southern Command,” stated White House Press Secretary Karine Jean-Pierreโ during a press briefing.”Admiral Hogg is โa highly respected and experienced naval officerโค who is implementing a comprehensive plan to protect maritime commerce and deter future attacks.” Jean-Pierre further emphasized that the administration is working closely with Caribbeanโค nationsโข to enhance their maritime securityโ capabilities and address the rootโฃ causes of piracy.
The White House’s defense of Admiral Hogg comes as lawmakersโ on both sides of the aisle have begun to demand answers about the administration’s response to the growing pirate โthreat. Senator Marco Rubio (R-FL) has called for aโ Senate hearing โto investigate the matter,โ while Representative Bennie Thompsonโฃ (D-MS)โ has requested a โbriefing from โthe Department of โฃdefense. the Biden administration has โฃpledged to cooperate fullyโ with Congress and provide regular updates on the โsituation.
