US Declares War on Narco-Terrorists with New Military Operation
Secretary of War Pete Hegseth has officially announced a new US military intervention targeting drug cartels in Latin America, naming the campaign Operation Southern Spear. The move comes after President Donald Trump was briefed on strike options by top generals earlier this week.
"President Trump ordered action – and the Department of War is delivering," Hegseth stated in a social media post. He described the mission as a defensive measure to protect the American homeland from the threat of narcotics and the organisations that traffic them.
Military Build-Up and Initial Strikes
The announcement follows a significant escalation of US military activity in the region. According to reports, the administration has already conducted 20 strikes on alleged smuggling boats, resulting in the deaths of at least 80 people. These operations began on 2 September in the Caribbean and have since expanded to the eastern Pacific.
The world's largest aircraft carrier, the USS Gerald R Ford, arrived in the Caribbean this week, signalling a major commitment of force. It is accompanied by a substantial strike group, including:
- Nine squadrons of Carrier Air Wing Eight
- The guided-missile destroyers USS Bainbridge and USS Mahan
- The missile defense command ship USS Winston S Churchill
This group joins eight other Navy vessels already stationed in the area, creating a formidable naval presence estimated to include 10,000 personnel.
International Backlash and Legal Challenges
The administration's aggressive new policy has not been met without controversy. The governments of both Venezuela and Colombia have accused Washington of extrajudicial murder. In a significant diplomatic move, the United Kingdom ended its regional intelligence sharing arrangement with the US on Tuesday.
Human rights groups and international law experts have also raised alarms, warning that the killings are illegal. The administration, however, justifies its actions by claiming it is engaged in an "armed conflict" with cartels, using legal authority reminiscent of the post-9/11 War on Terror.
Critics further argue that the military focus on the Caribbean is misplaced, contending that the majority of drugs entering the US from the region come overland via Mexico or through the Pacific.
