Pentagon Launches ‘Lança do Sul’ With Carrier Group in Caribbean

Overview

• Defense chief Pete Hegseth announced the operation under U.S. Southern Command after the USS Gerald R. Ford and its strike group reached the region.
• U.S. forces have destroyed about 20 boats since September with at least 76–80 reported fatalities, and officials have not publicly presented evidence the vessels carried drugs.
• Venezuela staged nationwide drills and President Nicolás Maduro signed a law creating integrated defense commands in response to the U.S. buildup.
• European officials condemned lethal actions in international waters as unlawful, a claim rejected by Secretary of State Marco Rubio, while Colombia’s Gustavo Petro halted intelligence sharing until the boat attacks stop.
• Sources cited by U.S. media say senior officials presented President Trump with options that included possible strikes on Venezuelan territory, as questions persist over whether this is a new mission or a rebranded phase.