The US government has announced that it will launch a military operation in Latin America to combat “narco-terrorists” on orders from President Donald Trump. This information was announced this Thursday (11/13) by Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth.
The operation, dubbed Southern Lance, will be led by the U.S. Southern Command (SOUTHCOM), which is responsible for operations in Central America, South America, and the Caribbean.
Hegseth said the action was aimed at protecting the United States and the “Western Hemisphere.”
“President Trump ordered action and the Department of the Army is following orders. Today, I am announcing Operation Southern Spear,” the Pentagon chief said in a statement released to Hegseth.
So far, the Pentagon has not released further details about Operation Southern Spear. However, the increase in military rhetoric coincides with North American movements on the ground. In recent months, U.S. warships, F-35 fighter jets and even the world’s largest aircraft carrier, the Gerald R. Ford, have been deployed to the Caribbean.
Since then, Washington has announced 19 bombings of boats traveling through the area, suspected to be related to drug trafficking, killing at least 80 people. However, concrete evidence of a link between ships and crime has emerged.
In late October, President Trump suggested that maritime operations could shift to land and directly attack the territory of regional countries.
Mr. Maduro and Mr. Petro align their sights
Behind the United States’ “war” on drug trafficking in Latin America is an accusation against Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro.
In July, Washington said the Chavez leader was the head of the Venezuelan cartel Los Soles, recently classified as a terrorist organization by North American governments.
The reclassification of drug cartels opens up loopholes for American military operations in other countries under the banner of the war on terror.
In addition to President Maduro, Colombian President Gustavo Petro was also targeted by the Trump administration. Colombian representative is a “drug leader” for the US president. Bogota views the declaration as a possible domestic coup attempt.
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