U.S. Southern Command head announces sudden retirement

The commander of the US Southern Command (SOUTHCOM), whose space of ​​operations consists of the Caribbean waters the place the assaults on the suspected drug boats had been carried out, introduced that he’ll all of the sudden retire by the tip of the yr.

Navy Adm. Alvin Holsey, who turned the commander of SOUTHCOM in November 2024, introduced Thursday that he would retire from the Navy in December. No motive was given for his abrupt departure, and the Pentagon didn’t instantly reply to a request for remark from Fox Information Digital.

“The SOUTHCOM group has made and can proceed to make lasting contributions to the protection of our nation,” Holsey mentioned in a press release SOUTHCOM shared on social media. “I’m assured you’ll transfer ahead targeted in your mission that strengthens our nation and ensures its longevity as a beacon of freedom all over the world.”

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Secretary of Struggle Pete Hegseth visits the Panama Canal on April 8, 2025 in Panama Metropolis, Panama. Panama Canal Supervisor Dr. Ricaurte Vasquez Morales welcomes Pete Hegseth. (Daniel Gonzalez/Anadolu through Getty Pictures)

Holsey was commissioned in 1988 and flew each SH-2F Seasprite and SH-60B Seahawk helicopters. Holsey’s earlier assignments embrace serving as Deputy Commander of SOUTHCOM, Deputy Chief of Naval Employees and Plane Service Strike Group Commander Carl Vinson.

The New York Instances first reported that Holsey could be leaving his put up.

Holsey’s retirement, lower than a yr into his tenure as chief of the combatant command, is uncommon. Former SOUTHCOM commander, Military Gen. Laura Richardson, served on this function from 2021 to 2024.

Holsey’s retirement comes as tensions rise in his space of ​​operations, and simply days after the U.S. army carried out a raid in opposition to suspected drug traffickers within the Caribbean and after the Struggle Division unveiled a brand new Joint Process Power to Counter Narcotics in SOUTHCOM’s space of ​​duty.

The Trump administration has taken an aggressive strategy to tackling the circulation of medicine into the US, designating drug cartel teams corresponding to Tren de Aragua, Sinaloa and others as overseas terrorist organizations in February.

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The US killed six alleged drug traffickers on a ship in worldwide waters close to Venezuela, President Donald Trump introduced on October 14, 2025. (realDonaldTrump/Reality Social)

So does the White Home despatched a memo to lawmakers On September 30, they had been knowledgeable that the US is now engaged in a “non-international armed battle” with drug smugglers, and has carried out at the very least 5 lethal assaults on suspected drug boats off the coast of Venezuela.

Nonetheless, lawmakers on each side of the aisle have raised doubts in regards to the legality of the strikes, and Senators Adam Schiff, D-Calif., and Tim Kaine, D-Va., launched a conflict powers decision in September to ban U.S. troops from partaking in “hostilities” in opposition to sure non-state organizations.

Though the decision failed within the Senate on October 8 by a 51-48 margin, Republicans Rand Paul of Kentucky and Lisa Murkowski of Alaska joined their Democratic counterparts in voting for the decision.

In the meantime, Trump has indicated that he’s now monitoring land operations “as a result of now we have excellent management of the ocean,” and confirmed that he has licensed the CIA to conduct covert operations in Venezuela after the New York Instances reported on Wednesday that he had authorized the order.

Trump mentioned he did this as a result of Venezuela has launched prisoners within the US, and since medicine had been flowing into the US from Venezuela via sea routes.

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Tensions between the US and Venezuela are escalating because the Trump administration steps up its crackdown on drug trafficking. (Alfredo Lasry R/Getty Pictures; Chip Somodevilla/Getty Pictures)

Nonetheless, Trump declined to reply when requested whether or not the CIA had the authority to “take out” Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro. The Trump administration has mentioned it doesn’t acknowledge Maduro as a reliable head of state, however because the chief of a drug cartel.

Secretary of Struggle Pete Hegseth recommended Holsey for his service and wished Holsey and his household the perfect of luck.

“All through his profession – from commanding helicopter squadrons to main Service Strike Group One and championing the Worldwide Maritime Safety Assemble – Admiral Holsey has demonstrated an unwavering dedication to the mission, the folks and the nation,” Hegseth mentioned in a social media put up Thursday. “His tenure as army deputy commander and now commander of United States Southern Command displays a legacy of operational excellence and strategic imaginative and prescient.”