US airstrikes against alleged drug boats in the Caribbean and eastern Pacific have continued unabated since early September - a deadly campaign now dubbed Operation Southern Spear. Tens of thousands of troops and substantial air and naval assets have been deployed to the region, collectively forming the largest US military presence in and around Latin America in decades. On Sunday, the US military confirmed the world's largest aircraft carrier, the USS Gerald R Ford, had arrived in the Caribbean.
The Trump administration argues the strikes are necessary to stem the flow of drugs to the US. They have, however, been controversial and sparked fears of a wider conflict in the region.
President Trump and members of his administration have justified the strikes as a necessary counter-drug measure to stem the flow of narcotics from Latin America to US streets. Defence Secretary Pete Hegseth described the campaign as aimed at removing 'narco-terrorists from our hemisphere' and securing the US from 'the drugs that are killing our people'. However, little information about the targets or the drug trafficking organizations involved has been officially released by the Pentagon.
The US has deployed substantial strike power in the Caribbean and western Atlantic within striking distance of Venezuela, including the USS Gerald R Ford aircraft carrier and various destroyers and assault ships ready to land troops. Trump has also authorized CIA operations in Venezuela, adding a layer of controversy and complexity to the situation.
Between September 2 and November 16, US forces have hit at least 22 vessels in 21 separate strikes, resulting in significant casualties among those labeled as 'narco-terrorists'. Critics of the strikes have questioned their legality and potential violation of international law, raising concerns about civilian impacts and due process.
As tensions escalate, concerns grow that the US may be preparing to attack Venezuela or undermine the Maduro government, which has responded by mobilizing troops and denouncing US intervention as a threat to sovereign peace. In a world increasingly focused on the repercussions of military actions, the effectiveness and legality of Operation Southern Spear remain under scrutiny.
The Trump administration argues the strikes are necessary to stem the flow of drugs to the US. They have, however, been controversial and sparked fears of a wider conflict in the region.
President Trump and members of his administration have justified the strikes as a necessary counter-drug measure to stem the flow of narcotics from Latin America to US streets. Defence Secretary Pete Hegseth described the campaign as aimed at removing 'narco-terrorists from our hemisphere' and securing the US from 'the drugs that are killing our people'. However, little information about the targets or the drug trafficking organizations involved has been officially released by the Pentagon.
The US has deployed substantial strike power in the Caribbean and western Atlantic within striking distance of Venezuela, including the USS Gerald R Ford aircraft carrier and various destroyers and assault ships ready to land troops. Trump has also authorized CIA operations in Venezuela, adding a layer of controversy and complexity to the situation.
Between September 2 and November 16, US forces have hit at least 22 vessels in 21 separate strikes, resulting in significant casualties among those labeled as 'narco-terrorists'. Critics of the strikes have questioned their legality and potential violation of international law, raising concerns about civilian impacts and due process.
As tensions escalate, concerns grow that the US may be preparing to attack Venezuela or undermine the Maduro government, which has responded by mobilizing troops and denouncing US intervention as a threat to sovereign peace. In a world increasingly focused on the repercussions of military actions, the effectiveness and legality of Operation Southern Spear remain under scrutiny.
