Admiral Alvin Holsey, the four-star Navy officer commanding all U.S. military forces in South and Central America—including the Caribbean Sea—will retire later this year after less than a year in the post.
Holsey, a veteran Navy pilot who assumed command of U.S. Southern Command (SOUTHCOM) in November 2024, oversaw the early stages of a U.S. military campaign targeting regional drug cartels, with a particular focus on Venezuela. Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth announced Holsey’s retirement plans in a post on X, praising his “37 years of distinguished service,” which included a previous tour as SOUTHCOM’s deputy commander.
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The reasons behind Holsey’s early departure remain unclear. During an address to senior military leaders last month, Hegseth acknowledged that several high-ranking officers’ “sudden retirements” under President Donald Trump’s second administration were, in fact, dismissals.
Holsey’s tenure has been marked by controversy following a series of U.S. air and naval strikes on vessels alleged to be trafficking narcotics in international waters off Venezuela’s coast. Those operations, ordered by Trump, have resulted in the deaths of more than two dozen people. On October 15, Trump stated that he was considering expanding the campaign to include land-based targets.
Meanwhile, the U.S. military has continued to build up its presence in the region. Reports indicate that eight Navy ships are currently patrolling the Caribbean Sea, supported by roughly 10,000 American troops engaged in counternarcotics operations.
