U.S. Launches Operation Southern Spear Amid Venezuelan Military Mobilization

In early November 2025, U.S. Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth formally announced the initiation of "Operation SOUTHERN SPEAR," a military undertaking focused on countering narcoterrorism within the Caribbean basin. The operation commenced concurrently with the arrival of the USS Gerald R. Ford carrier strike group in the region, signaling an increased United States military posture toward Latin America. The stated aim of the deployment is to dismantle drug trafficking networks allegedly operating from Venezuela, specifically referencing the transnational criminal organization Tren de Aragua.

The force projection involves a significant concentration of American military assets, with over 6,000 U.S. personnel already positioned in the area, supplemented by an additional contingent of approximately 4,500 personnel accompanying the carrier group. The USS Gerald R. Ford entered the U.S. Southern Command (SOUTHCOM) area of responsibility on November 11, 2025, following its departure from the Mediterranean on November 4. This deployment represents the largest U.S. military presence in the region in decades.

The context for Operation Southern Spear is linked to prior escalations, specifically the Trump administration's designation of the Tren de Aragua gang as a Foreign Terrorist Organization (FTO) on February 19, 2025, following an executive order signed on January 20, 2025. The U.S. government has utilized this designation to justify ongoing military actions, including at least 20 airstrikes on maritime vessels since September 2025, which have reportedly resulted in approximately 80 fatalities, asserting that the U.S. is engaged in "armed conflict" with these cartels.

In response to the American military buildup, Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro ordered a mobilization of his nation's defense forces. This defensive maneuver places over 200,000 troops, comprising all branches of the armed forces and the Bolivarian militia, on maximum operational readiness. The government in Caracas maintains that the carrier's presence and related military activity constitute a direct threat to Venezuelan sovereignty, an assertion Washington disputes while maintaining its focus is on disrupting illicit activities.

The strategic implications of Operation Southern Spear are currently under international review. The deployment, which also includes F-35B jets stationed in Puerto Rico and the submarine USS Newport News, reflects a determined commitment to counter what Secretary Hegseth termed "transnational threats" destabilizing the region. As of November 14, 2025, the contrasting military posturing has established a high-stakes geopolitical situation in the Caribbean, continuing a military campaign that began in August 2025.