Washington– Washington (AFP) – The Navy admiral who oversees military operations in the region where American forces are deployed Alleged drug boats were attacked He and the Defense Secretary announced Thursday that they will retire off Venezuela in December.
Admiral Alvin Hulsey only became commander of US Southern Command in November, overseeing an area including the Caribbean Sea and the waters off South America. These types of posts typically last between three and four years.
News of Hulsey’s upcoming retirement comes two days after the US military’s fifth fatal strike in the Caribbean against a small boat accused of carrying drugs. The Trump administration has confirmed that it treats alleged drug dealers as drug traffickers Unlawful combatants Which must be confronted with military force.
Frustration over the attacks grew on Capitol Hill. Some Republicans are seeking more information from the White House about the legal justifications and details of the strikes, while Democrats assert that the strikes violate American and international law.
“It is an honor to serve our nation and the American people and to support and defend our Constitution for more than 37 years,” Hulsey said in a statement posted on the leadership’s Facebook page.
“The Southern Command team has made lasting contributions to our nation’s defense and will continue to do so,” he said. He added: “I am confident that you will move forward, focused on your mission that strengthens our nation and ensures that it continues as a beacon of freedom around the world.”
The US Southern Command did not provide any other information other than the admiral’s statement.
In a post Thursday afternoon, Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth thanked Hulsey for his “decades of service to our country, and we wish him and his family continued success and achievement in the years ahead.”
“Admiral Hulsey has demonstrated an unwavering commitment to the mission, the people and the nation,” Hegseth wrote.
Pentagon officials did not provide any further information and referred The Associated Press to Hegseth’s statement on social media.