US Launches ‘Operation southern Spear’ Amidst Increased Military presence in South America
The United States has announced the launch of “Operation Southern Spear,” a mission directed by the Department of War and aligned with President’s priorities to counter illicit drug trafficking and enhance regional security. The announcement, made late Thursday by National Security Advisor Robert Hegseth, coincides with a notable build-up of US military assets in the Latin America region.
This progress follows a recent report detailing the US military’s 20th strike on vessels in the Caribbean and Pacific, resulting in four fatalities earlier this week. According to CNN, citing an unnamed US Defense Department official, there were “no survivors” from Monday’s strike on a suspected drug smuggling vessel. The US has conducted thes attacks, claiming to target drug smuggling operations, but has yet to provide supporting evidence or legal justification for the lethal force employed, which has reportedly resulted in approximately 80 deaths to date.
US Secretary of State Marco Rubio responded to criticism from G-7 allies regarding the US attacks on Wednesday, asserting that European nations would not dictate US national security decisions.
The launch of Operation Southern Spear is further underscored by the anticipated arrival of the USS Gerald R Ford, the most advanced US aircraft carrier, off the coast of Venezuela in the coming days. This deployment represents an extraordinary display of US military power not witnessed in South America for generations.
The increased military presence, encompassing troops, naval forces, and air power, is officially framed as part of the Trump governance’s efforts to dismantle Latin American drug trafficking organizations. However, it is widely perceived as a move aimed at the potential removal of Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro.
President Maduro, speaking on Venezuelan state television Wednesday, accused the US of fabricating justifications for its attacks on vessels in regional waters and its threats against Venezuela. “Since they cannot say that we have hidden biological or chemical weapons, they invent a bizarre narrative,” Maduro stated, referencing accusations of drug trafficking leveled against him by Washington.
In response to the escalating US military presence,Venezuela’s Ministry of defense announced the mobilization of nearly 200,000 troops for a two-day exercise designed to bolster the nation’s preparedness against the “imperialist threat.” Defence Minister Vladimir Padrino Lopez characterized the US military deployment in the Caribbean as a “vulgar attack against the sovereignty and peace” of Venezuela and the broader region.
Elizabeth dickinson, Senior Analyst for the Andes region at the International Crisis Group, told the Associated Press that an aircraft carrier offers little utility in combating drug trafficking. “I think it’s clearly a message that is much more geared towards pressuring caracas,” she said.
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