US Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth on Thursday announced a new military initiative aimed at targeting what he described as “narco-terrorists,” raising broader concerns that Washington’s increased naval presence in Latin American waters could signal an expansion toward land strikes and a larger regional confrontation.
In a statement shared on X, Hegseth introduced the mission:
“Today, I’m announcing Operation SOUTHERN SPEAR. This mission defends our Homeland, removes narco-terrorists from our Hemisphere, and secures our Homeland from the drugs that are killing our people.”
He provided no further details on how the operation would unfold or what would distinguish it from ongoing US military activities in the region.
Under President Donald Trump, US forces have been conducting an extensive anti-drug campaign across the Caribbean and the eastern Pacific, deploying naval and air assets. Since early September, US operations in international waters have targeted roughly 20 vessels, resulting in at least 76 fatalities, based on figures released by Washington.
When pressed for additional clarification about the scope and objectives of Operation Southern Spear, a Pentagon spokesperson declined to elaborate, instead directing journalists back to Hegseth’s post.
Tension escalated further after a report by CBS News on Wednesday indicated that senior military officials had provided Trump with updated options for possible actions in Venezuela — including land-based strikes.
In response, Venezuela announced a broad nationwide military mobilization on Tuesday to counter what it sees as an increasingly aggressive US naval presence near its shores. The deployment comes amid the arrival of a US aircraft carrier strike group in the region, alongside F-35 stealth fighters stationed in Puerto Rico and six additional US Navy vessels operating in the Caribbean.
Officials in Caracas say they fear the military build-up may be a covert attempt to trigger regime change.
