Former Secretary of State Mike Pompeo said the Trump administration views recent military activity in the Caribbean as part of a broader security strategy, signaling that Operation Spear reflects more than routine enforcement. Pompeo told anchor Martha MacCallum that the administration “understands that this is all part of a larger puzzle,” as U.S. forces continue targeting suspected drug-trafficking boats. His comments added context to Operation Spear, the largest regional deployment since the Cuban Missile Crisis.
More than 20 strikes have been carried out against maritime narcotics networks. War Secretary Pete Hegseth announced the mission on Nov. 13, stating the goal is to remove “narco-terrorists” from the Western Hemisphere. The White House has not yet released an official statement on the operation while senior military officials visit U.S. troops in Puerto Rico.
Pompeo linked the mission to growing adversarial influence in Latin America. He said, “The Venezuelans [are] supported by the Cubans, the Russians and the Chinese now in our own neighborhood. And getting rid of Maduro gives the Venezuelan people a shot and keeps us safer.” He added that the administration remains “very serious about continuing to ratchet up the pressure on the regime” to help Venezuelans gain “a leadership that can actually protect them and give them a shot at prosperity.”
The Justice Department has accused Venezuelan leader Nicolás Maduro of leading a drug-trafficking and narco-terrorism network since 2020. Pompeo noted that while the first Trump administration did not succeed in removing Maduro, Venezuelan opposition forces have grown “willing to do more.” He said, “When you least expect these things, sometimes they happen,” suggesting that shifting regional dynamics may create an opening for political change.
