The United States announced on Thursday the launch of a new military operation in Latin America, named “Southern Spear,” targeting what it described as “terrorist drug traffickers.” The move has raised concerns that Washington may be preparing to expand its military actions from the sea onto land, potentially triggering a broader conflict.

U.S. Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth stated on X that the operation aims to “defend our homeland, eliminate terrorist drug traffickers, and protect our people from deadly narcotics.” He provided no further details about the mission or how it differs from ongoing strikes carried out in recent weeks.

The administration of President Donald Trump has been conducting aerial and maritime strikes in the Caribbean Sea and the Pacific Ocean against boats Washington claims are involved in drug smuggling. The deployment includes significant military assets, most notably the aircraft carrier USS Gerald Ford, which arrived off the Latin American coast earlier this week.

According to U.S. data, these operations have targeted around 20 vessels, resulting in at least 76 deaths. However, Washington has not yet provided evidence that the targeted boats were indeed engaged in drug trafficking.

The strikes have drawn international criticism and fueled concerns that the broader objective may be to pave the way for the removal of Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro.