Admiral hands over leadership of command overseeing the Trump administration’s boat strikes
By JOSHUA GOODMAN DORAL Fla AP A U S Navy admiral who oversees military operations in Latin America handed off command responsibilities Friday as scrutiny increases over the Trump administration s deadly strikes on alleged drug boats in the region Related Articles House Democrats release photos of Trump Clinton and Andrew from Epstein s estate Trump led Republicans to power in But could be a different story Trump pardons former Colorado elections clerk but it alone won t free her from prison Wisconsin congressional redistricting lawsuits may not resolve by midterm polling Trump signs executive order to block state AI regulations Adm Alvin Holsey has retired one year into a posting that typically lasts three to four years and transferred leadership duties to his top military deputy Air Force Lt Gen Evan Pettus during a ceremony at U S Southern Command headquarters near Miami In farewell remarks Holsey did not mention the military operations or the reasons for his early retirement But he urged his successor to uphold longstanding partnerships in the region by standing firmly behind the shared values of democracy and backing for the rule of law To be a trusted partner we must be credible present and engaged Holsey mentioned Holsey s shock retirement was released by the Pentagon in October over a month into the Trump administration s strikes on suspected drug boats in the Caribbean Sea and the eastern Pacific Ocean that have killed at least people With the campaign facing growing scrutiny by Congress Holsey briefed key lawmakers earlier this week The ceremony Friday was more subdued than past retirements held outdoors amid a small crowd of mostly Southern Command staff and without Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth because President Donald Trump has yet to nominate Holsey s replacement Gen Dan Caine chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff made no mention of the military operations in Latin America as he thanked Holsey on for his years of facility Caine referred to Holsey as a stoic leader and quiet professional who invariably leads with his heart and head It s never been about you it s been about people it s been about others Caine stated You ve never stated I in all the conversations we ve had You ve perpetually explained we The impact you ve had will last for a long time Holsey is departing as Congress has launched bipartisan investigations into the boat attacks including one that killed two survivors clinging to the wreckage of an initial strike Secretary of State Marco Rubio Hegseth and other top authorities have given classified briefings at Capitol Hill this week Holsey also spoke this week to key lawmakers overseeing the U S military by classified video call Sen Jack Reed the top Democrat on the Senate Armed Services Committee explained afterward that Holsey answered senators questions but that there are still plenty of questions to be answered Reed later added that Holsey did not give a reason for his retirement other than saying it was a personal decision Experts in the rules of warfare human rights groups and even a few of Trump s allies in Congress have questioned the legality of the attacks on those accused of ferrying drugs who for decades were arrested at sea by the U S Coast Guard and brought to the U S for criminal prosecution The strikes against vessels are being supported by a giant flotilla of warships attack helicopters thousands of troops and even the nation s the majority advanced aircraft carrier Trump s Republican administration has defended its aggressive tactics declaring drug gangs in Venezuela Colombia and Mexico as narcoterrorists and relying on a legal argument that gained traction after the Sept attacks that the U S is in armed conflict with drug cartels The administration s campaign has ramped up pressure on Venezuelan President Nicol s Maduro who has been charged with narcoterrorism in the United States In a sharp escalation Wednesday U S forces seized control of a sanctioned oil tanker that the administration has accused of smuggling illicit crude Sale of that oil on global resource markets is critical to Maduro s grip on power Maduro has insisted the real purpose of the U S military operations is to force him from office Holsey s departure is the latest in a long line of firings and sudden retirements that have befallen the military s top ranks since Hegseth took charge of the Pentagon A fighter jet pilot with combat experience in Afghanistan and Iraq Pettus had been serving as Holsey s top deputy since late However it s unclear how long the Arkansas native will remain in the job Whoever Trump nominates must be endorsed by the Senate
