U.S. Launches Operation Southern Spear, Escalating Toward Venezuela Intervention
United States has formally launched Operation Southern Spear, a new military campaign across Latin America under the banner of the Trump administration’s expanded “war on drugs.”
United States, PUREWILAYAH.COM - The United States has formally launched Operation Southern Spear, a new military campaign across Latin America under the banner of the Trump administration’s expanded “war on drugs.”
The move has intensified regional tensions as Washington deploys advanced military assets and considers options that could lead to direct action against Venezuela.
Secretary of War Pete Hegseth announced the operation, stating it was authorized by President Donald Trump to:
“secure our Homeland from the drugs that are killing our people.”
Southern Command (SOUTHCOM) first outlined the concept of Southern Spear in January, highlighting the use of new military technologies, including long-dwell robotic surface vessels, small robotic interceptor boats, and vertical take-off and landing robotic aircraft to support maritime and aerial counter-narcotics missions.
Trump Briefed on Military Options for Venezuela
The launch of Operation Southern Spear comes just days after President Trump received a classified briefing detailing several military options for Venezuela, according to four sources familiar with the discussions.
CNN reported that while Trump has not made a final decision, he is actively evaluating potential scenarios targeting Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro, including limited strikes and broader actions aimed at destabilizing the Venezuelan government.
Sources described the proposals as updated versions of earlier Pentagon plans, with one individual insisting that Trump had not moved closer to approving any specific operation.
Washington’s Expanding Military Presence in the Caribbean
In recent months, the US has dramatically expanded its naval, air, and ground presence throughout the Caribbean Basin. Officials claim the deployment strengthens “counter-narcotics and counterterrorism capabilities,” though the scale of the buildup marks one of the most significant US military mobilizations in the region in years.
Since early September, Trump has authorized a series of strikes on what Washington describes as drug-trafficking vessels in the Caribbean Sea and Eastern Pacific.
According to Pentagon briefings:
approximately 20 vessels have been destroyed
at least 75 people have been killed as of November 10
Legal Shield for US Forces
Despite concerns about legality, the US Department of Justice’s Office of Legal Counsel (OLC) issued a classified legal opinion in July stating that American military personnel conducting strikes on vessels in the Caribbean would not be subject to future prosecution, according to The Washington Post.
The request for legal protection reportedly came after senior government lawyers raised alarms over the potential legal and political consequences of the strikes.
Admiral Alvin Holsey, then-commander of US Southern Command, was among those urging caution. Sources claim Holsey insisted that all strike proposals undergo rigorous review before reaching President Trump.
Holsey resigned unexpectedly in October—one year after assuming command. The resignation, according to The Washington Post, was linked to his reservations about the escalating operations.
Rising Fears of Intervention in Venezuela
As Operation Southern Spear accelerates, Washington’s expanding military posture could signal preparations for more aggressive measures against the Maduro government.
The combination of intensified military activity, high-level policy briefings, and legal protections for US forces has amplified concerns that the Trump administration is paving the way for potential intervention in Venezuela.
For now, the situation continues to evolve, but Operation Southern Spear marks a clear escalation in US regional activities with implications that extend far beyond counter-narcotics operations. (PW)