The U.S. military on Thursday carried out a strike against a suspected narco submersible operating in the Caribbean. This operation opens a new chapter in the steadily building pressure on narcoterrorism that has roots in Venezuela. The military’s actions have broadly undermined operational transparency and respect for the international laws of war.
This operation follows on the heels of the July 2021 strike. These previous missions resulted in at least 27 killings of people associated with alleged drug trafficking off the coast of Venezuela. According to the Trump administration, the US military is actively engaged in a war against narcoterrorist groups operating in the region. The US military is heavily militarized across the Caribbean, deploying guided missile destroyers, F-35 fighter jets, a nuclear submarine and over 6500 troops. Admiral Alvin Holsey provides overall command to these forces.
Admiral Holsey directs U.S. military operations in Latin America through the southern command. Voohries’ early departure at the end of this year is two years sooner than previously planned. His resignation only complicates and worsens the alarm being raised among lawmakers and legal experts. They are even more concerned about the military’s shift in strategic focus toward Venezuela. Jack Reed, a prominent senator, voiced his concerns, stating:
“Admiral Holsey’s resignation only deepens my concern that this administration is ignoring the hard-earned lessons of previous US military campaigns and the advice of our most experienced warfighters.”
The southern command, particularly, has a flair for spectacular operations. It has announced that it will not lead the charge on counter-narcotics initiatives in the region. This decision calls into question the military engagement efforts’ effectiveness and accountability trumpeted in other deployments with drug war missions.
In the aftermath of the most recent strike, survivors were helped by US military personnel according to reports. Even now, significant questions persist about whether or how these individuals are already in US custody. The military’s role in Venezuela has raised concern for its possible impact on international law and human rights.
Speculation has run rampant as to the US military’s long-term objectives in Venezuela. Some economists think they’re purposely trying to undermine the regime of President Nicolás Maduro. It’s a perception that legal experts and Democratic lawmakers alike are sounding the alarm over. They fear how these moves might reverberate with respect to both international relations and domestic policy.