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 stated that the campaign - officially named Operation Southern Spear - aims to remove narco-terrorists from our hemisphere and secure the US from drugs that are killing Americans.
However, little information has been provided about the targets. US deployment includes significant assets positioned close to Venezuela, with 15 warships identified in the area. The military has conducted at least 22 strikes resulting in the death of at least 83 alleged narco-terrorists. Many questions remain regarding the legality and the potential escalation of military actions into a broader conflict with Venezuela, as the Maduro government responds with military readiness exercises and refutes US claims of targeting narcotics trafficking.
As tensions rise, international observers continue to express concern over the ethical implications of these strikes and the possibility of deeper American involvement in Venezuelan politics.
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 stated that the campaign - officially named Operation Southern Spear - aims to remove narco-terrorists from our hemisphere and secure the US from drugs that are killing Americans.
However, little information has been provided about the targets. US deployment includes significant assets positioned close to Venezuela, with 15 warships identified in the area. The military has conducted at least 22 strikes resulting in the death of at least 83 alleged narco-terrorists. Many questions remain regarding the legality and the potential escalation of military actions into a broader conflict with Venezuela, as the Maduro government responds with military readiness exercises and refutes US claims of targeting narcotics trafficking.
As tensions rise, international observers continue to express concern over the ethical implications of these strikes and the possibility of deeper American involvement in Venezuelan politics.
