The United States military has significantly intensified its campaign against alleged drug traffickers, launching a series of strikes across the Caribbean and Eastern Pacific oceans under the banner of “Operation Southern Spear.” These operations, which began in September 2025, have seen a dramatic increase in military action against vessels suspected of involvement in narcotics smuggling, resulting in dozens of reported deaths and a substantial naval buildup in the region.
Operation Southern Spear: A New Offensive
Launched officially in mid-November 2025, “Operation Southern Spear” is a U.S. Southern Command (SOUTHCOM)-led initiative directed by President Donald J. Trump. The operation’s stated aim is to dismantle “narco-terrorist” networks threatening the U.S. homeland by disrupting drug flows and hostile criminal networks before they reach American shores. This campaign marks a significant shift from traditional law enforcement interdiction methods, employing military force with lethal outcomes. The operation involves a hybrid fleet integrating unmanned and traditional naval forces, supported by extensive intelligence, surveillance, and reconnaissance assets. The U.S. military has characterized these groups as narcoterrorists, including Venezuelan criminal organizations like Tren de Aragua and the Colombian National Liberation Army (ELN), though evidence supporting these specific designations or the allegations against the targeted vessels has not been publicly presented.
Strikes Expand Across Caribbean and Pacific
The initial phase of the operation commenced in the Caribbean Sea in September 2025, with the first publicly announced strike occurring on September 1st, targeting a vessel allegedly carrying drugs from Venezuela. President Trump announced this strike, stating that 11 members of the Tren de Aragua gang were killed. The strikes soon expanded to the Eastern Pacific Ocean in October, indicating a broadened geographic scope for the anti-narcotics effort.
As of November 16, 2025, official figures indicate that at least 83 people have been killed across 21 strikes, involving 22 vessels. Of these, 11 strikes occurred in the Caribbean and 11 in the Eastern Pacific, with two survivors apprehended. The operations have not been without incident, including a previously unannounced strike on October 16, 2025, involving a suspected narco-submarine. This particular incident resulted in two deaths and two survivors who were later repatriated to Colombia and Ecuador.
Escalation and Naval Buildup
The military actions are accompanied by a substantial U.S. naval deployment in the region. The arrival of the USS Gerald R. Ford carrier strike group in the Caribbean in November 2025 marked a significant increase in U.S. naval presence, described as the heaviest concentration in the region since the Cold War era. This buildup includes multiple warships, amphibious assault ships, and advanced aircraft, underscoring the scale and seriousness of “Operation Southern Spear”.
Background and Context
The current campaign represents an intensification of U.S. efforts to combat drug trafficking, a focus that has been amplified during President Trump’s second term. Administration officials have characterized drug smugglers as terrorists and blamed them for fueling drug-related violence within the United States. The operation blurs the lines between law enforcement and military action, with the administration citing a determination that the U.S. is in a state of “armed conflict” with drug cartels as legal justification for the lethal force employed. This approach departs sharply from decades of U.S. policy that primarily relied on the Coast Guard and DEA for interdiction and prosecution.
Controversies and Regional Implications
The “Operation Southern Spear” has drawn significant criticism and raised considerable concern. International human rights organizations, regional leaders, and some members of Congress have questioned the legality and ethics of the strikes, referring to them as potential extrajudicial killings and violations of international law. The lack of publicly presented evidence linking the targeted vessels to drug trafficking or to the groups designated as narcoterrorists has fueled these criticisms.
Colombian President Gustavo Petro, for instance, accused the U.S. of murder following a strike that allegedly killed a Colombian fisherman. Several Latin American and Caribbean governments have expressed alarm, fearing a return to overt cross-border operations without sovereign consent and potential regional instability. The United Nations human rights chief has also deemed the strikes “unacceptable”.
Furthermore, the extensive military buildup and assertive actions have sparked speculation that the U.S. may be pursuing regime change in Venezuela, a notion President Trump has alluded to by suggesting Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro’s days are numbered. However, U.S. officials have consistently stated the operations are focused on counter-narcotics, though the broader strategic objectives remain a subject of debate.
Looking Ahead
As “Operation Southern Spear” continues, the U.S. military’s aggressive stance against alleged drug traffickers in the Caribbean and Pacific is set to remain a prominent and controversial aspect of regional security news. The ongoing nature of these strikes, coupled with the significant military presence, indicates a prolonged commitment to this new strategy. The effectiveness of these operations in curbing drug flows, as well as their long-term implications for international law and regional stability, will undoubtedly remain under close scrutiny in the coming months. The news today highlights the evolving tactics in the global fight against illicit narcotics.