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The U.S. Southern Command reaffirmed the relevance of the so-called Operation Southern Spear, an ongoing military campaign that deploys American forces throughout the Caribbean region and the Western Hemisphere with the stated objective of “protecting the homeland” and combating transnational illicit networks.
In a message shared on the social network X, Southcom itself emphasized that the “elite warriors” of the Southern Spear Joint Task Force are ready “24 hours a day” to support operations led by the Department of Defense and aligned with the U.S. president's priority of strengthening national security.
Multifaceted operation
The Southern Spear Operation was formally announced in November 2025 by the United States Secretary of War and has been described by the Pentagon as a military and surveillance campaign that combines actions against drug trafficking, criminal networks, and threats to hemispheric security.
The development of the operation has involved:
Air, maritime, and land deployment of U.S. forces in the Caribbean and areas near Venezuela, consisting of warships, fighter jets, air forces, and infantry units.
Intensive military surveillance by sea and air to intercept illicit networks.
Naval interdiction operations, including seizures and boardings of sanctioned vessels related to the trade of Venezuelan crude under the quarantine imposed by Washington.
Combat actions and attacks on vessels allegedly linked to drug trafficking.
Blockade and maritime quarantine
In December 2025, the United States imposed a maritime quarantine on sanctioned tankers entering or leaving Venezuela, as part of the Lanza del Sur framework.
This measure has resulted in the capture and interception of several vessels to ensure compliance with sanctions related to crude oil trade, also affecting the energy supplies of related countries.
Regional context
Washington authorities have linked the operation to the fight against drug trafficking and the protection of national security.
Meanwhile, Southern Command continues to emphasize that its forces are committed to the defense of the hemisphere and ensuring security in the region, operating under a strategy that encompasses air, sea, and land to confront threats it identifies as transnational.
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