Overview
- The USS Gerald R. Ford carrier strike group moved into U.S. Southern Command’s area on November 11 with four F/A‑18E squadrons and three guided‑missile destroyers.
- Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth announced Operation Southern Spear under a new joint task force to target narcoterrorist networks in the Western Hemisphere.
- Caracas declared a large‑scale mobilization, citing roughly 200,000 personnel and nationwide exercises, and labeled the U.S. buildup a threat to its sovereignty.
- The United Kingdom has suspended sharing maritime intelligence with Washington over concerns about how data may be used, exposing a rift between close allies.
- Reporting cites 70–80 deaths from U.S. strikes on suspected narcotics vessels since September and a confidential Justice Department memo asserting a legal basis, while regional governments urged restraint and adherence to international law.