The United States and Donald Trump are not giving up their fight against drug trafficking in South America. America’s Defense Secretary on Thursday announced a new military operation aimed at “eliminating narcoterrorists”, after beefing up the country’s naval presence in Latin American waters raised fears of land attacks and wider conflict.
“Today, I announce Operation SOUTHERN SPEAR » (“Southern pike”, in French in the text), writes Pete Hegseth in
Ground attacks or naval drones?
However, Pete Hegseth did not specify the nature of the operation or what differentiated it from military actions that had already been launched. Asked, neither did the Pentagon. But what else can the Trump administration do about its military campaign in the Caribbean and Pacific that already involves half a dozen warships and F-16 fighter planes?
This Wednesday, the American channel CBS News quoted several sources who confirmed that senior military officials had presented to the White House tenants various options for operations in Venezuela, including a ground attack that could be included in Operation “Southern Spear”.
“Illegal trade detection and monitoring”
But other options are also on the table. Last January, the US Naval Forces Southern Command (USSOUTHCOM) and the US 4th Fleet launched a mission also called the “Southern Spear”. The latest effort is “deploying a heterogeneous set of robotic and autonomous systems (ARS) to facilitate the detection and monitoring of illicit trade,” according to the press release.
The American Navy should envision the deployment of long-endurance robotic surface ships, robotic interceptor ships, or even robotic aircraft with vertical takeoff and landing. It remains to be seen what lies behind Pete Hegseth’s words.
Meanwhile, the Venezuelan army on Tuesday announced a “massive” deployment across the country, fighting American “imperialism.” Venezuela accused Washington of using drug trafficking as a pretext “to force regime change” in Caracas and confiscate its oil.
