Military Whitely Pursuing Drug Cartels Under Trump's Command
U.S. Military Deploys to Caribbean to Combat Drug Cartels
In a significant move aimed at combating the threat to U.S. national security, the U.S. Navy has deployed over 4,500 sailors and Marines to the southern Caribbean. The operation, which began in August 2025, is being led by the U.S. Navy and involves three amphibious ships—USS Iwo Jima, USS San Antonio, and USS Fort Lauderdale—deployed from Naval Station Norfolk.
According to reports, the mission targets Latin American drug cartels, particularly those allegedly linked to the Venezuelan government and classified as terrorist organizations by the U.S. government. U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio has publicly confirmed the deployment, naming the "Cartel de los Soles" as a primary target.
The U.S. military presence in the Caribbean includes not only naval deployments but also air assets such as P-8 Poseidon spy planes. Additionally, at least one warship and a submarine have been sent near Venezuela to reinforce these efforts.
The deployment follows President Donald Trump’s directive to the Pentagon to prepare military options against Latin American drug cartels, prioritizing efforts to combat fentanyl and other drugs entering the U.S. The operation is in response to the drug flood in the USA that the President is paying close attention to.
However, the deployment has faced criticism and concern in the region. Critics argue that soldiers are not law enforcement and warn against deeper military entanglement in narco conflicts. Mexico has strongly opposed the deployment of U.S. military forces on its territory.
The units will operate in international waters and airspace for several months. According to a report in the "New York Times", Trump had previously ordered the Pentagon to use military means against cartels. The mission, which aims to arrest drug traffickers and combat the threat to U.S. national security, is being conducted in the Caribbean.
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