US launches military operation in Latin America against narco-terrorists

The United States government launched a military operation called “Southern Spear” in Latin America to “remove narco-terrorists” from the region. The announcement comes amid the U.S.’ ongoing naval campaign in the Caribbean and growing tensions with Venezuela. U.S. Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth published a post on X to announce the new operation, which the U.S. Southern Command and the Joint Task Force Southern Spear will lead. “This mission defends our Homeland, removes narco-terrorists from our Hemisphere, and secures our Homeland from the drugs that are killing our people,” Hegseth said. “The Western Hemisphere is America’s neighborhood – and we will protect it.” Hegseth provided no details about what the operation would entail or how it would differ from other military actions the U.S. government is already conducting. President Trump ordered action — and the Department of War is delivering.Today, I’m announcing Operation SOUTHERN SPEAR.Led by Joint Task Force Southern Spear and @SOUTHCOM, this mission defends our Homeland, removes narco-terrorists from our Hemisphere, and secures our…— Secretary of War Pete Hegseth (@SecWar) November 13, 2025 The United States is currently conducting a military operation in the Caribbean and eastern Pacific, deploying naval and air forces in the region. The goal, they said, is to take down drug-trafficking boats allegedly smuggling illegal narcotics into the U.S. Since early September, they have struck down about 20 ships in international waters in the region, killing at least 80 people, according to The New York Times. Venezuela on alert The operation in the Caribbean has caused concerns that a growing U.S. naval presence in Latin American waters could lead to a broader conflict, and even land strikes in Venezuela. It is unclear whether Operation Southern Spear is the official name of the ongoing campaign in the Caribbean or whether it will be carried out in other areas. Experts in the U.S. have also said that the strikes are illegal extrajudicial killings, given that the military cannot deliberately target civilians if they don’t pose an imminent threat of violence, even if they are suspected of being criminals. According to CBS News, on Wednesday, Hegseth and other senior military officials briefed President Donald Trump on options for potential operations in Venezuela, including land strikes. Trump has reportedly not made a final decision on the matter. Hegseth’s announcement comes days after the arrival of the U.S.’ largest aircraft carrier, the USS Gerald Ford, to international waters off the coast of Venezuela, along with 4,000 sailors and dozens of aircraft. Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro and several members of his administration have accused Trump of “fabricating” a drug crisis with the hidden goal of toppling his government. On Tuesday, Venezuela announced it would initiate a major, nationwide military deployment to fight the U.S. naval presence. Maduro told CNN that he was “governing for peace” and that Venezuela and the United States should “unite for the peace of the continent.” On Tuesday, Colombian President Gustavo Petro ordered to put on hold the intelligence exchange between his country and the United States as a way of putting more distance with the Trump administration amid the boat attacks in the Caribbean.