U.S. Navy Admiral Alvin Holsey, the military commander overseeing the Pentagon’s stepped-up operations against vessels suspected of drug smuggling in the Caribbean Sea, announced Thursday that he is stepping down.
Holsey, who heads US Southern Command (SOUTHCOM), responsible for military operations in Central and South America, was at the helm during the rapid deployment of some 10,000 personnel as part of what the Pentagon describes as a major counter-drug and counter-terrorism campaign.
His decision comes less than a year into a tenure that typically lasts three years and coincides with what many consider the most significant operation of his 37-year military career. The reasons for his sudden departure remain unclear. However, one current and one former US official, both speaking anonymously due to personnel sensitivities, indicated that Admiral Holsey had expressed reservations about the mission and attacks on vessels suspected of narcotics smuggling.
Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth made no mention of any disagreements with the four-star commander in a statement shared on social media. “On behalf of the War Department,” Hegseth said, using the alternate name he now prefers for the department, “we extend our deepest thanks to Admiral Alvin Holsey for his more than 37 years of outstanding service to our nation as he plans to retire at the end of the year.”
Holsey, who was nominated by former President Joe Biden, announced his unexpected departure in a statement posted on X, saying, “It has been an honor to serve our nation, the American people, and support and defend the Constitution for over 37 years,” adding, “Being your commander and representative for the past 34 months has been a tremendous honor.
He is the last flag officer to retire since Hegseth took over the Pentagon. Several of those departures were sudden, including the removal of Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff CQ Brown, who was Black, and Chief of Naval Operations Lisa Franchetti, the first woman to serve in that role.
Holsey’s resignation comes at a time when the Pentagon is experiencing a series of high-profile departures and growing controversy surrounding an increased US military presence in the southern Caribbean near Venezuela, which is said to be targeting drug traffickers.
The US military attacked vessels off the coast of Venezuela
Meanwhile, U.S. military strikes targeting suspected drug-smuggling vessels off the coast of Venezuela have left at least 27 dead, prompting concern among legal experts and especially Democratic lawmakers who question whether the actions comply with the laws of war, according to a Reuters report. The Trump administration says it is involved in a conflict with narco-terrorist organizations based in Venezuela, justifying the strikes as legal.
Trump revealed on Wednesday that he had authorized the Central Intelligence Agency to conduct covert operations inside Venezuela, further fueling speculation in Caracas that the United States may be trying to topple President Nicolás Maduro.
(With inputs from Reuters)_
