Operation Southern Spear

Operation Southern Spear is a large-scale maritime surveillance and anti-narcotics mission launched by the United States. The mission aims to combat “narco-terrorists” (armed organizations involved in drug trafficking) and to identify and disrupt drug trafficking routes.

Operation Process and Command

The operation was officially announced on 13 November 2025 by U.S. Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth. It is conducted under the leadership of the U.S. Southern Command (SOUTHCOM) and the newly established Joint Task Force Southern Spear. The White House justifies the mission as necessary to eliminate “narco-terrorists” from the region, sever drug trafficking routes, and halt the flow of narcotics threatening the U.S. homeland.^【1】

The announcement of the operation coincided immediately with a significant military buildup by the U.S. Navy in the Caribbean Sea. The USS Gerald R. Ford aircraft carrier, destroyers, and other naval units have been deployed to the region, with U.S. defense officials stating these assets will be used to monitor, detect, and, if necessary, conduct kinetic interventions against drug corridors. Strategically, the operation is not only intended to disrupt drug trafficking routes but also serves as a testing ground for the U.S. Navy’s capacity in autonomous systems (Robotic and Autonomous Systems – RAS), marking a technological transformation.

According to reports, at least 21 attacks have been carried out since September 2025 in the Caribbean and Eastern Pacific. Pentagon data indicates that more than 80 individuals have lost their lives in these operations. The most recent reports confirm that on 15 November, a “lethal kinetic strike” against a vessel in the Eastern Pacific resulted in the deaths of three men.

The U.S. Southern Command stated that the vessel was targeted based on intelligence confirming it belonged to a “classified terrorist organization,” was operating along a known trafficking route, and was carrying narcotics. Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth characterized these actions as conducted “in international waters against lawful targets.” As part of the operation, MV-22B Osprey tiltrotor aircraft have been deployed in the Caribbean Sea for nighttime missions. These aerial activities demonstrate that the operation encompasses not only offensive actions but also continuous surveillance and monitoring.

The military buildup is substantial. Numerous warships, amphibious assault vessels, and Marine Corps units have been stationed in the Caribbean region, representing the largest U.S. military presence in the area in recent years.

Military Dimension

The unmanned systems employed in the operation are designed to operate independently while also coordinating with manned ships and maritime operations centers. This integration enables the simultaneous detection of targets and execution of operations, ensuring that manned and unmanned platforms can function together effectively. Autonomous systems deployed for long-duration patrol and surveillance missions provide valuable data for evaluating operational efficiency and refining tactics, techniques, and procedures. In this context, the operation can be viewed as a practical example of the U.S. Navy’s hybrid fleet approach, testing and optimizing the interoperability of manned and unmanned systems to advance operational concepts.

In particular, Saildrone Voyager-type unmanned surface vehicles (USVs) play a critical role. Twenty Voyager USVs have been deployed as part of the operation; these vessels are built for high durability and equipped with advanced sensor systems.

These unmanned vessels are designed for surveillance missions in the Caribbean Sea and Eastern Pacific. They scan maritime corridors, identify suspicious vessel movements, and transmit collected data in real time to joint command centers. Coordination between USVs and U.S. Coast Guard vessels creates a combined surveillance and intervention capability integrating human and autonomous elements.

Technical infrastructure is supported by companies such as BlackSea Technologies. BlackSea provides the GARC (Global Autonomous Reconnaissance Craft), a 16-foot unmanned surface vehicle, and the “Oceanus VI,” a logistics support vessel, for Operation Southern Spear.

Diplomatic and Geopolitical Response

Diplomatically, the operation has generated significant tensions. Venezuelan leader Nicolás Maduro has accused the United States of using the operation as a “cover for intervention” and has declared a nationwide military mobilization in response. Venezuela’s Minister of Defense, Vladimir Padrino López, described the operation as a “global threat” to Latin America’s sovereignty. Some regional countries and observers argue that the U.S. actions cannot be explained solely as efforts to combat drug trafficking and suggest deeper intentions related to strategic pressure and geopolitical advantage.

The legal framework of the operation has also sparked debate. Some legal experts have noted that attacks on vessels may not qualify as acts of armed conflict under international law and have questioned the transparency of the operation’s legitimacy claims. These discussions have led to divergent assessments of the operation’s long-term diplomatic consequences.

From the perspective of regional actors, the growing U.S. military presence is interpreted in various ways. Caribbean and Latin American nations are closely monitoring the situation and assessing its potential impact on their own security and political balances.