Latin America Security

At his confirmation hearing, Marine Lt. Gen. Francis Donovan — President Trump’s nominee to lead U.S. Southern Command — was repeatedly pressed by senators about the rapid expansion of U.S. operations in Latin America after months of maritime strikes and the recent raid that captured Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro; Donovan said he is prepared to oversee a larger SOUTHCOM footprint but did not know the administration’s long‑term plan or how long the buildup would last. Lawmakers from both parties voiced legal and oversight concerns — citing the lethal boat‑strike campaign, a CIA drone dock strike, a multi‑ship and troop deployment, and questions over War Powers and allied intelligence sharing — while signaling they expect to move toward confirmation but want greater transparency.

After a Senate vote failed to constrain the White House’s Venezuela actions, Sen. Rand Paul said the ongoing U.S. seizures and redistribution of Venezuelan oil amount to an “active war.” His remarks come as the administration faces fallout from a military operation that captured Nicolás Maduro, plans to sell 30–50 million barrels of Venezuelan crude, disputed casualty figures and widespread legal and diplomatic challenges over whether the campaign is law‑enforcement or an act of war.