Admiral Alvin Holsey, head of U.S. military forces in Latin America, will step down at the end of the year, two years earlier than expected, amid rising friction with Venezuela.
Secretary of War Pete Hegseth confirmed Holsey’s departure on Thursday, calling it an unexpected move. Sources told Reuters that tensions had grown between the admiral and Hegseth over Caribbean operations, with speculation mounting that he could be dismissed before his resignation was announced.
Senator Jack Reed, the top Democrat on the Senate Armed Services Committee, described the development as “troubling,” warning that it comes as fears of a potential confrontation with Venezuela are increasing. Reed said Holsey’s resignation reflects deeper concerns about Washington’s handling of recent military campaigns and disregard for senior officers’ advice.
Hegseth did not explain the reason behind the resignation of Holsey, one of only two Black four-star officers leading a U.S. combatant command. Holsey said on X that he would retire on December 12 after more than 37 years of service, expressing gratitude for the opportunity to serve the nation.
The announcement coincides with a U.S. military buildup in the Caribbean, featuring guided missile destroyers, F-35 jets, a nuclear submarine and thousands of troops, as President Donald Trump intensifies pressure on Venezuela’s government. U.S. strikes on suspected drug boats off Venezuela have reportedly killed at least 27 people, sparking debate over their legality. The administration maintains that the targets are linked to narcoterrorist groups, calling the operations legitimate.
Adding to the controversy, Trump revealed on Wednesday that he had authorised the CIA to conduct covert operations inside Venezuela, fuelling speculation that Washington seeks to unseat President Nicolas Maduro.
Holsey’s resignation marks another high-level departure under Hegseth’s leadership, following the firings of Joint Chiefs of Staff Chairman C.Q. Brown and Navy Chief Lisa Franchetti. Both removals drew attention for their abrupt nature and the seniority of those affected.
Just days earlier, the Pentagon announced that future counter-narcotics missions in the region would no longer be led by the Miami-based Southern Command but by the II Marine Expeditionary Force from North Carolina—a decision that surprised defence analysts.
In his statement, Hegseth thanked Holsey for his service, wishing him and his family “continued success and fulfilment in the years ahead.”
U.S. President Donald Trump sought a deal with Iran "out of deperation," Iranian Supreme Leader Mojtaba Khamenei has said, in a statment on social me...
The leader of an extremist group that carried out so-called "Sharia patrols" targeting people suspected of drinking alcohol in Russia's Kabardino-Balk...
The U.S. has announced new visa restrictions targeting individuals it says are undermining peace efforts in Ethiopia, focusing on hardline members of ...
The European Parliament has adopted one of its strongest resolutions on Georgia to date, calling for the release of political prisoners, backing sanct...
A Ukrainian drone strike has hit an oil refinery in south-east Moscow for the second time in three days, triggering a major fire, disrupting flights a...
U.S. President Donald Trump sought a deal with Iran "out of deperation," Iranian Supreme Leader Mojtaba Khamenei has said, in a statment on social media. Khamenei added that he himself "held a different view," to Trump, but allowed the agreement after receiving assurances from Iran's President.
The U.S. has announced new visa restrictions targeting individuals it says are undermining peace efforts in Ethiopia, focusing on hardline members of the Tigray People's Liberation Front (TPLF) and their immediate family members amid rising tensions in the country's north.
Russian President Vladimir Putin has welcomed the recent agreement between the U.S. and Iran, saying it could help stabilise the Middle East and ease pressure on global energy and food markets.
U.S. Defence Secretary Pete Hegseth has delivered a stark message to North Atlantic Treaty Organisation (NATO) allies, warning that some member states are falling short on defence commitments and signalling a tougher U.S. approach as the alliance prepares for its upcoming summit in Ankara.
Donald Trump has said the U.S. will resume bombing Iran if Tehran doesn't "behave," at the sidelines of the G7 summit in France. Earlier, the U.S. President criticised Israel for its tactics against Hezbollah, saying it was unnecessary to bomb entire apartment buildings to tackle militants.
U.S. President Donald Trump sought a deal with Iran "out of deperation," Iranian Supreme Leader Mojtaba Khamenei has said, in a statment on social media. Khamenei added that he himself "held a different view," to Trump, but allowed the agreement after receiving assurances from Iran's President.
U.S. President Donald Trump said a preliminary agreement to end the war in the Gulf has been signed by the U.S. and Iran, though details have yet to be made public and both countries said a permanent truce is yet to be negotiated.
A cyber extortion group has claimed it stole more than a terabyte of data from Danish pharmaceutical giant Novo Nordisk after the company allegedly refused to pay a $25 million ransom.
American technology company Snap has launched its first augmented-reality (AR) glasses for consumers, marking a major push into wearable computing as tech firms race to redefine personal devices in the AI era.
The leader of an extremist group that carried out so-called "Sharia patrols" targeting people suspected of drinking alcohol in Russia's Kabardino-Balkarian Republic has been sentenced to four years and three months in a penal colony.
The U.S. has announced new visa restrictions targeting individuals it says are undermining peace efforts in Ethiopia, focusing on hardline members of the Tigray People's Liberation Front (TPLF) and their immediate family members amid rising tensions in the country's north.
A Ukrainian drone strike has hit an oil refinery in south-east Moscow for the second time in three days, triggering a major fire, disrupting flights across the Russian capital and highlighting growing vulnerabilities in the country's energy infrastructure.
The United Arab Emirates has introduced a minimum age of 15 for social media use, becoming the first country in the Arab world to impose such a restriction amid growing global concerns about the impact of digital platforms on children.
Russian President Vladimir Putin has welcomed the recent agreement between the U.S. and Iran, saying it could help stabilise the Middle East and ease pressure on global energy and food markets.
You can download the AnewZ application from Play Store and the App Store.
What is your opinion on this topic?
Leave the first comment