“President Trump has ordered action and the War Department is implementing it,” Hegseth wrote on X. “Today I am announcing Operation SOUTH SPEAR,” he announced.
“The mission, led by Joint Task Force Southern Spear and Southern Command, is to defend our homeland, removing narco-terrorists from our hemisphere and protecting our homeland from the drugs that are killing our people. The Western Hemisphere is America's neighborhood — and we will protect it,” he added.
On Tuesday, the U.S. Navy announced that the Gerald Ford aircraft carrier strike group had moved into the U.S. Southern Command area of responsibility, which extends to all Latin American countries except Mexico.
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The aircraft carrier entered the area on November 11, the statement said. It was emphasized that this is to help fight drug smuggling.
The deployment of forces was ordered last month by US President Donald Trump. There are already eight warships, a nuclear submarine and F-35 fighter jets in the Caribbean region – Reuters reported.
Venezuelan leader Nicolas Maduro maintains that the buildup of US forces is aimed at removing him from power.
The US accuses Maduro of directing drug smuggling and does not recognize him as the rightful president of Venezuela. Most U.S. attacks on suspected smugglers' boats have occurred off the country's coast. In August, U.S. Attorney General Pam Bondi announced that The United States is offering a reward of $50 million for information that may lead to the arrest of the Venezuelan leader.
See also: The Pentagon is considering striking Venezuela. Donald Trump will decide
USS Gerald R. Ford is the newest and the largest aircraft carrier in the US Navy. With a displacement of over 100 thousand tons takes on board over 75 combat aircraft. Like other units of this class, it operates together with escort and supply ships. Typically, such a grouping includes several destroyers or frigates, often reinforced with a cruiser and submarines. They are accompanied by logistic ships. In total, there may be up to 8,000 people on board of such a grouping. soldiers.
On Thursday, CBS reported that high-ranking Pentagon officials presented the information to the president on Wednesday options for potential operations in Venezuela, including land strikes in the coming days. According to her sources, no final decision on the use of force was made at the meeting.
The White House refused to answer PAP's question about the details of the operation and whether it means strikes against targets in Venezuela. He sent him to the Pentagon for details.
