The United States is overseeing a seismic reordering of defense priorities and assets to the Western Hemisphere. At the time of this writing, four destroyers, one cruiser, one nuclear-powered attack submarine, one landing helicopter dock, two amphibious vessels, and one special operations platform, alongside a host of enablers and support vessels, are present in the Caribbean. In total, more than 10 percent of all deployed U.S. naval assets are currently located in the SOUTHCOM area of responsibility. These forces are more than a mere show of force; since the first warships entered the region in August, the U.S. military has conducted at least four lethal strikes against alleged drug trafficking boats in international waters, killing at least 21.
The next phase of operations could witness strikes within Venezuelan territorial waters or even on land. Reportedly, the Trump administration has already drawn up strike packages for such contingencies, which are currently being reviewed by the president. Meanwhile, President Donald Trump has notified Congress of his determination that the United States is involved in a “noninternational armed conflict” against drug trafficking groups now designated as foreign terrorist organizations, suggesting that the tempo of operations will only increase in the coming weeks.
