Latest news with #USSouthernCommand
Mint
2 days ago
- Politics
- Mint
US Deploys 4,000 Troops to Latin America in Anti-Cartel Push
(Bloomberg) -- The Defense Department is sending more than 4,000 sailors and Marines to the seas around Latin America, a US official said, a show of strength after President Donald Trump signaled he's willing to use military force against drug cartels. The official, who asked not to be identified discussing details that haven't been made public, said the expeditionary force was headed to the US Southern Command area of operations but declined to identify the exact destination. The deployment involves the Iwo Jima Amphibious Ready Group and 22nd Marine Expeditionary Unit, which include three amphibious vessels. The ready group and expeditionary unit function jointly as a crisis response force and thus can move among combatant commands as needed. CNN first reported the decision. The Navy had earlier announced the departure of the unit from Norfolk, Virginia for 'a regularly scheduled deployment.' US Southern Command's area of responsibility includes Central and South America and the surrounding waters, as well as the Caribbean. There was no immediate word on what the troops would do, but the New York Times reported earlier that Trump had ordered the Defense Department to prepare options to take military action against Latin American drug cartels. Mexico has ruled out the deployment of US forces on its territory. In the coming months, US Southern Command will have additional resources to assist with the administration's counter-narcotics operations, the US official said. The movement of the forces to the region doesn't mean they won't ultimately move elsewhere as originally planned, potentially to engage in exercises, the official said. Typically, naval forces departing from the East Coast head to Europe, as the US historically has not devoted significant military resources in the western hemisphere, the official said. But the US president has stepped up military operations in the region, including sending guided missile destroyers to support border operations. More stories like this are available on
Yahoo
4 days ago
- Politics
- Yahoo
US military deploying over 4,000 additional troops to waters around Latin America as part of Trump's counter-cartel mission
The US military is deploying more than 4,000 Marines and sailors to the waters around Latin America and the Caribbean as part of a ramped-up effort to combat drug cartels, two US defense officials told CNN — a dramatic show of force that will give the president a broad range of military options should he want to target drug cartels. The deployment of the Iwo Jima Amphibious Ready Group (ARG) and the 22nd Marine Expeditionary Unit to US Southern Command, which has not been previously reported, is part of a broader repositioning of military assets to the SOUTHCOM area of responsibility that has been underway over the last three weeks, one of the officials said. A nuclear-powered attack submarine, additional P8 Poseidon reconnaissance aircraft, several destroyers and a guided-missile cruiser are also being allocated to US Southern Command as part of the mission, the officials said. A third person familiar with the matter said the additional assets are 'aimed at addressing threats to US national security from specially designated narco-terrorist organizations in the region.' On Friday, the US Navy announced the deployment of the USS Iwo Jima, the 22nd MEU, and the two other ships in the Amphibious Ready Group — the USS Fort Lauderdale and the USS San Antonio — but did not say where they were going. One of the officials emphasized that the military buildup is for now mostly a show of force, aimed more at sending a message than indicative of any intention to conduct precision targeting of cartels. But it also gives US military commanders — and the president — a broad range of options should Trump order military action. The ARG/MEU, for example, also features an aviation combat element. The deployment of the Marine Expeditionary Unit, however, has raised concerns among some defense officials who worry that the Marines are not trained to conduct drug interdictions and counter drug-trafficking. If that is part of their mission set, they will have to lean heavily on the Coast Guard, officials said. MEUs have been instrumental in the past in supporting large-scale evacuation operations; a MEU was stationed for months in the eastern Mediterranean, for example, amid tensions between Israel, Hamas and Iran. A Marine official told CNN that the MEU 'stands ready to execute lawful orders and support the combatant commanders in the needs that are requested of them.' The US military deployed destroyers to the areas around the US-Mexico border in March to support US Northern Command's border security mission and reinforce the US' presence in the western hemisphere. The additional assets being moved now, however, will fall under US Southern Command, and are set to support SOUTHCOM for at least the next several months, one of the officials said. CNN previously reported that a memo signed by Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth earlier this year stated that the US military's 'foremost priority' is to defend the homeland, and instructed the Pentagon to 'seal our borders, repel forms of invasion including unlawful mass migration, narcotics trafficking, human smuggling and trafficking, and other criminal activities, and deport illegal aliens in coordination with the Department of Homeland Security.' The same memo also formally asked Pentagon officials for 'credible military options' to ensure unfettered American access to the Panama Canal, CNN reported at the time. CNN's Zachary Cohen contributed to this report. Solve the daily Crossword
Time of India
17-07-2025
- Politics
- Time of India
US deploys forces to Panama Canal: Week-long PANAMAX-Alpha exercise begins; defense secretary warns of China's 'maligned influence'
The United States and Panama have launched PANAMAX-Alpha Phase I, a week-long joint military training operation focused on regional security and emergency preparedness for the Panama Canal. The exercise, scheduled from July 13 to 18, 2025, aims to enhance strategic preparedness near the Panama Canal against "threats to the security of the Panama Canal and other strategic infrastructure," according to Panama's National Aeronaval Service. The military exercise is being operated by Joint Task Force-Bravo (JTF-B) of the US Southern Command, with personnel from Panama's National Aeronaval Service, National Police, and National Border Service participating. PANAMAX-Alpha Phase I follows PANAMAX-Alpha Phase 0, which was held in April 2025 involving the United States and Panama, conducted by JTF-Bravo and supported by the US Southern Command. JTF-Bravo UH-60 Blackhawk out of Soto Can Air Base, Honduras (Pic credit: @JTF_Bravo/X) In April, US Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth announced an expanded security partnership between the United States and Panama to reinforce protection of the Panama Canal from "China's maligned influence" in the region. The announcement was made during a three-day security conference in Panama City, where Hegseth said, "The Panama Canal is key terrain that must be secured by Panama, with America, and not China," according to the US Department of Defense. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like For the chosen ones! 4&5 Bed Condominiums at Financial District, Hyd Sumadhura Group Learn More Undo He added that "[China's] growing and adversarial control of strategic land and critical infrastructure in this hemisphere cannot and will not stand." PANAMAX-Alpha Phase I involves the deployment of two UH-60 Black Hawks and one CH-47 Chinook helicopter, along with boarding and disembarking operations, fast rope insertion, rescue crane extraction, and communication exercises on maritime platforms. The US Southern Command shared images of simulated Panama Canal security operations on X (formerly Twitter). These drills are being conducted at the Teniente Octavio Rodríguez Garrido Air Base (Panama Pacific), Almirante Cristóbal Colón Naval Air Base (Colón), and Salvador Córdoba Major Air Base (Darién). The Panama Canal serves as a key maritime route connecting the Atlantic and Pacific Oceans. The waterway was built by the US beginning in 1904 and has been under Panama's control since 1999.
Boston Globe
27-04-2025
- Politics
- Boston Globe
Lawsuit says migrants endure isolation and intimidation at US' Guantanamo detention center
'Officers at Guantánamo have created a climate of extreme fear and intimidation where immigrant detainees are afraid to communicate freely with their counsel,' the lawsuit says, adding that conditions are more restrictive than at mainland detention facilities, prisons and in some instances law-of-war military custody at Guantanamo Bay. Get Starting Point A guide through the most important stories of the morning, delivered Monday through Friday. Enter Email Sign Up US Southern Command, which oversees the base, declined to comment on the lawsuit and referred requests to the Department of Homeland Security, which did not immediately respond to an email Saturday. Advertisement In March a federal judge ruled against advocates' attempts to help migrants at Guantanamo and prevent further transfers there, days after the administration moved all migrants out of the facility. Two Nicaraguans who arrived since then have submitted court declarations charting their journey through detention centers in Louisiana to Cuba and describing their anguished concerns that phone conversations are being monitored and might lead to punishment or reprisals. Advertisement Attorneys have no in-person contact with clients at the base and say they are chained and placed in restraints during legal calls that are broadcast on speakerphone with officers seated outside an open doorway. That undermines the right to confidential communication and attorney-client privilege, the lawsuit says. The complaint also says some detainees have been interrogated by the FBI about possible gang affiliation while surrounded by military officers. One person was stripped in search of a missing toothbrush, and another was locked in a concrete cell with no windows or lights for four days, it adds. 'I have been allowed to speak to my family about 20 times. Each call is about 5 minutes,' Johon Suazo-Muller said in a written declaration to the court that was translated into English. He said he immigrated to the US from Nicaragua in October 2023 in search of asylum from political conflict and a better life. 'I am not allowed to give any information about my time at Guantanamo,' Suazo-Muller said. 'I can't say where I'm at or details about how I'm doing.'
Daily Mail
27-04-2025
- Politics
- Daily Mail
Trump says American ships should 'immediately' be allowed free travel through Panama and Suez canals
President Donald Trump has called for American military and commercial ships to be allowed to travel through the Panama and Suez Canals for free. In a post to his Truth Social, Trump said: 'American Ships, both Military and Commercial, should be allowed to travel, free of charge, through the Panama and Suez Canals! 'Those Canals would not exist without the United States of America. I've asked Secretary of State Marco Rubio to immediately take care of, and memorialize, this situation!' Trump has repeatedly said he wanted to 'take back' the canal before he took office in January. His remarks on Saturday night come after insiders claimed last month that he had ordered the military to draw up plans to seize the Panama Canal. The US Southern Command has developed an array of potential plans to ensure the America has full access to the Panama Canal, two military sources confirmed to Reuters. Draft strategies reportedly range from partnering closely with Panamanian security forces to using American troops to forcibly seize the waterway, which officials say is the less likely option. Officials allege Adm. Alvin Holsey, commander of US Southern Command, presented the proposals to Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth. His remarks on Saturday night come after insiders claimed earlier this week that he had ordered the military to draw up plans to seize the Panama Canal Trump has asserted that the US needs to take back the canal because China controls it and could use the waterway to undermine American interests. Any move by a foreign power to take the canal by force would almost certainly violate international law. A US invasion of Panama is unlikely, the insiders cautioned, telling NBC News that such a move would only be seriously considered if increased presence of American troops in the area did not achieve Trump's goal to 'take back' the canal. Trump has said repeatedly he wants to 'take back' the waterway, but has not offered specifics about how he would do so, or if military action might be required. One insider said a document, described as an interim national security guidance by the new administration, called on the military to look at military options to safeguard access to the canal. A second official said the US military had a wide array of potential options to safeguard access, including ensuring a close partnership with Panama's military. The Panama Canal cross the narrowest part between North and South America, which allows ships to move quickly between the Atlantic and the Pacific oceans. It is considered one of the world's most strategically important waterways. The U.S. completed construction of the canal in the early 20th century but gave control of the strategically important waterway to Panama in 1999. The US and Panama are treaty-bound to defend the canal against any threat to its neutrality and are permitted to take unilateral action to do so. The Suez meanwhile connects the Mediterranean Sea to the Red Sea, accounting for 10 to 12 percent of global trade. In his inaugural speech in January, Trump repeated accusations that Panama has broken the promises it made for the final transfer of the canal in 1999.
