The United States government announced the launch of a military operation in Latin America, at the request of President Donald Trump, to combat “narco-terrorists.” This information was released on Thursday (11/13) by the head of the Pentagon, Pete Hegseth.
The operation was called “Southern Spear” and will be led by the US Southern Command (SOUTHCOM), which is responsible for operations in Central America, South America and the Caribbean.
According to Hegseth, the measure aims to defend the United States, as well as protect the “Western Hemisphere.”
“President Trump ordered this action, and the War Department is complying,” the Pentagon chief wrote in a statement posted on Hegseth’s website. “Today, I am announcing Operation Southern Spear.”
So far, the Pentagon has not provided further details about Operation Southern Spear. However, the increase in military rhetoric coincides with North American movements on the ground. In recent months, a fleet of US warships, F-35 fighter jets and even the world’s largest aircraft carrier, the USS Gerald R. Ford, have been deployed to the Caribbean.
Since then, Washington has announced 19 bombings against boats sailing in the area, allegedly linked to drug smuggling, killing at least 80 people. However, no concrete evidence has been uncovered regarding the connection between the ships and the crime.
At the end of October, Trump indicated that operations at sea could move to land, with direct attacks on the territories of countries in the region.
Maduro and Petro are in the crosshairs
The US “war” against drug trafficking in Latin America is based on accusations against Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro.
In July this year, Washington reported that Chavez’s leader was the head of the Venezuelan Los Soles cartel – which the North American government recently designated as a terrorist organization.
The reclassification of drug gangs has opened loopholes for US military operations in other countries, under the slogan of the war on terrorism.
In addition to Maduro, the Trump administration has also targeted Colombia’s president, Gustavo Petro. The US President represents Colombia’s representative for the “drug lord.” Bogota considered the announcement a possible coup attempt in the country.
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