Leadership of US command in Latin America changes hands amid criticism of boat strikes

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 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 sponsorship for the rule of law To be a trusted partner we must be credible present and engaged Holsey announced Holsey s shock retirement was disclosed 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 Long-term replacement for Holsey hasn t yet been named 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 for his years of amenity Caine referred to Holsey as a stoic leader and quiet professional who dependably leads with his heart and head It s never been about you it s been about people it s been about others Caine explained You ve never revealed I in all the conversations we ve had You ve dependably stated we The impact you ve had will last for a long time Holsey is departing as Congress is scrutinizing 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 bureaucrats have given classified briefings on 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 revealed afterward that Holsey answered senators questions but that there are still a multitude 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 Boat strike scrutiny increases Experts in the rules of warfare human rights groups and even certain of Trump s allies in Congress have questioned the legality of the attacks on those accused of ferrying drugs For decades they were arrested at sea by the Coast Guard and brought to the U S for criminal prosecution The known strikes against alleged drug-smuggling vessels are being supported by a giant flotilla of U S warships attack helicopters thousands of troops and even the nation s the greater part advanced aircraft carrier Trump s Republican administration has defended its aggressive tactics designating several drug cartels in Latin America as foreign terrorist organizations and declaring that the U S is in armed conflict with those criminal organizations relying on a legal argument that gained traction after the Sept attacks The campaign has ramped up pressure on Venezuelan President Nicol s Maduro who has been charged with narcoterrorism in the U S In a sharp escalation Wednesday U S forces seized a sanctioned oil tanker that the Trump administration has accused of smuggling illicit crude Sale of that oil on global strength 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 sudden retirements and firings that have befallen the military s top ranks since Hegseth took charge of the Pentagon A native of rural Fort Valley Georgia whose father and several uncles served in Vietnam Holsey relinquished his command to Pettus to a soulful rendition of Midnight Train to Georgia Pettus a fighter jet pilot with combat experience in Afghanistan and Iraq had been serving as Holsey s top deputy since late However it s unclear how long the Arkansas native will remain in the job Whomever Trump nominates must be approved by the Senate