In a significant escalation of its campaign against drug trafficking networks, the United States has launched a new military initiative in South America dubbed 'Operation Southern Spear'.
US Defence Secretary Pete Hegseth unveiled the operation via a social media announcement, confirming that American forces have already eliminated 75 suspected drug terrorists since the Pentagon intensified its focus on the region.
Operation Details and International Backlash
'President Trump ordered action — and the Department of War is delivering,' Hegseth declared in his post. 'Today, I'm announcing Operation SOUTHERN SPEAR. Led by Joint Task Force Southern Spear and @SOUTHCOM, this mission defends our Homeland, removes narco-terrorists from our Hemisphere, and secures our Homeland from the drugs that are killing our people.'
The announcement followed a briefing where Hegseth and Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff Dan 'Raizin' Caine presented President Trump with potential military options for the region.
The operation has already drawn international criticism, particularly from France. French Foreign Minister Jean-Noel Barrot expressed concern that the strikes 'violate international law', noting France's significant presence in the Caribbean through its overseas territories.
Secretary of State Marco Rubio delivered a robust defence of the operations at the Group of Seven foreign ministers' summit. 'I don't think that the European Union gets to determine what international law is,' Rubio countered. 'The United States is under attack from organized criminal narco-terrorists in our hemisphere, and the president is responding in the defence of our country.'
Strike Statistics and Legal Justifications
According to the Trump administration, the US military has conducted 19 known strikes against suspected drug-smuggling vessels in the Caribbean Sea and eastern Pacific Ocean since early September.
The most recent strikes occurred on Sunday, with two separate operations resulting in six fatalities. Secretary Hegseth confirmed both vessels were 'associated with illicit narcotics smuggling' and operating in international waters. 'Three male narco-terrorists were aboard each vessel. All six were killed. No US forces were harmed,' he stated.
The administration justifies these actions by characterising America's conflict with drug cartels as an 'armed conflict', employing the same legal authority used in the war on terrorism after the September 11 attacks.
Political Scrutiny and Congressional Pressure
The operations have faced scrutiny from both international quarters and domestic political opponents. Senate Democrats have questioned the legality of the strikes and renewed requests for detailed information about targeting procedures and legal justifications.
In a letter to Secretary of State Marco Rubio, Director of National Intelligence Tulsi Gabbard, and Defence Secretary Hegseth, senators demanded 'all legal opinions related to these strikes and a list of the groups or other entities the President has deemed targetable.'
Critics have labelled the targeted strikes as extrajudicial killings, while the Pentagon has yet to release concrete public evidence that the vessels were carrying narcotics or posed an immediate threat.
The White House maintains that President Trump possesses a clear mandate from the American public to take decisive action against cartels, particularly as his administration increases military pressure on Venezuela and designates Mexican drug cartels as terrorist organisations.
