Commander Retires Without Addressing Boat Strikes

Adm. Alvin Holsey has officially stepped down as commander of U.S. Southern Command, ending a tenure that lasted just one year and concluding without public comment on the deadly maritime strikes he initially oversaw near Venezuela and in the eastern Pacific.

The four-star Navy admiral formally retired Friday during a ceremony near Miami. No explanation was given for his early departure from a post that typically carries a three-year term. According to the New York Times, Holsey had raised early concerns about the legality and execution of strikes targeting suspected drug-smuggling vessels that began in September.

Current and former government officials said Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth became frustrated with what he viewed as Holsey’s cautious approach to pursuing traffickers and ultimately pushed him out. While Holsey was the top regional commander, officials said the operation was largely directed by the White House and Hegseth, with Joint Special Operations Command carrying out the strikes and Holsey playing a limited role in decision-making.

Since early September, U.S. special operations forces have targeted at least 22 boats, resulting in 87 deaths. American officials have described the campaign as part of an effort to combat drug trafficking, though some have privately acknowledged it was also tied to increasing pressure on Venezuelan leader Nicolás Maduro.

Lt. Gen. Evan Pettus, Holsey’s deputy from the Air Force, will serve as acting commander until a permanent replacement is nominated. Holsey’s exit adds to a growing list of more than two dozen senior military officers who have been dismissed or forced out by Hegseth this year, many of them women and people of color.

At the retirement ceremony, Holsey—who announced his plans to retire in October—did not address the maritime operations. Instead, he urged his successor to maintain strong regional partnerships by upholding shared principles such as democracy and the rule of law. “To be a trusted partner, we must be credible, present and engaged,” he said.

Original Source