Top Navy commander's exit raises concerns over Caribbean operations

Brace yourself for a shake-up in the U.S. military that could ripple through the Caribbean like a rogue wave, as The Hill reports.

In a stunning turn of events, Adm. Alvin Holsey, the four-star Navy officer leading U.S. Southern Command (Southcom), is stepping down two years early, leaving a void at the helm during a tense military buildup near Venezuela.

The announcement of Holsey’s retirement came from U.S. Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth on Thursday, October 16, 2025, catching many by surprise.

Unexpected Departure Amid Rising Tensions

Reports indicate that Holsey and Hegseth clashed over the direction of U.S. military missions, particularly strikes on boats suspected of drug trafficking in the Caribbean.

This isn’t just a personnel change; Southcom oversees all military operations in Central and South America, and losing its top commander now—while operations escalate—feels like swapping pilots mid-flight.

Adding fuel to the fire, the Trump administration has been ramping up actions in the region, targeting vessels off Venezuela’s coast with claims of drug smuggling, including a strike as recent as October 16, 2025.

Escalating Strikes and Military Buildup

Since September, the U.S. has conducted six such strikes near Venezuela, resulting in at least 29 deaths, though administration officials have yet to provide hard evidence of narcotics on board.

Instead, they’ve labeled those on the vessels as combatants in a supposed armed conflict, a justification that’s raising more than a few eyebrows among legal scholars and lawmakers.

Meanwhile, the U.S. military presence in the Caribbean is swelling, with around 10,000 service members, primarily stationed in Puerto Rico, alongside eight Navy ships, a nuclear submarine, warships, and fighter jets.

Questions Over Legal Authority

On October 15, 2025, three B-52H bombers flew a so-called demonstration mission over the area, a move confirmed by U.S. Air Force Southern Command that seems more like a flex than a necessity.

Critics, including Democratic lawmakers and even some Republicans, argue these actions lack congressional approval and may violate international norms, a concern that’s hard to dismiss when the Constitution demands debate before military entanglements.

“The American people do not want to be dragged into endless war with Venezuela without public debate or a vote,” said Sen. Rand Paul (R-Ky.) in a statement on October 17, 2025. While his sentiment echoes a desire for restraint, one wonders if the administration sees this as a pesky speed bump rather than a stop sign.

Leadership Vacuum and Policy Concerns

Sen. Jack Reed (D-R.I.), ranking member of the Senate Armed Services Committee, called Holsey’s exit troubling, especially as tensions with Venezuela simmer near a boiling point, and he’s not wrong to worry about stability in the chain of command.

With plans for a new counternarcotics task force under Southcom to target drug cartels, as announced by Hegseth, and President Trump’s assertion of an armed conflict against narco-terrorists, the region feels like a powder keg waiting for a spark.

Holsey’s departure, set for December 12, 2025, isn’t just a lone incident; it follows a pattern of senior military officials reportedly being sidelined by Hegseth, which begs the question of whether dissenting voices are being silenced in favor of a more aggressive stance.