Description: US Secretary of Defense, Pete Hegseth, announced that the Pentagon has officially launched Operation Southern Spear, focusing on countering drug trafficking in the Caribbean. Hegseth and US Secretary of State, Marco Rubio, briefed the House Intelligence Committee last week on the military’s intentions and long – term goals in the Caribbean with Democrat representative Jim Himes stating that neither Rubio nor Hegseth gave the indication that the US was planning regime change within Venezuela. The most significant naval asset, USS Gerald Ford was expected to arrive late next week in the Caribbean, significantly bolstering the level of military buildup in the region. Colombia and the UK in the interim reported that they have ceased intelligence sharing with the US regarding drug trafficking operations in the Caribbean, as opposed to Mexico, which stated that its marine and naval forces would join the US navy in the Caribbean in countering the drug trafficking.
Impact: The US continues with its consistent pressure strategy which is ultimately aimed towards Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro. The most recent military consultations in the highest echelons of the US government, coupled with the addition of the USS Gerald Ford in the theater leaves Maduro with the choice between immediately stepping down or agreeing towards significant concessions if hypothetically the US reengages in negotiations with Venezuela. Operation Southern Spear is nothing but continuation of the overt pressure strategy that the US started building up since the start of the military operations on drug boats in the Caribbean. Losing the UK and Colombia as intelligence – sharing partners in the region raises concerns over the legality or the credibility of the intelligence that led to the drone strikes on the drug boats in the Caribbean. Tensions would keep gradually rising further pressuring Maduro to abandon his strategic allegiance towards Russia, China and Iran and position Venezuela in a strategically beneficial posture for the US national and regional interests.