Commander of U.S. forces in Caribbean steps down early

Adm. Alvin Holsey relinquished command of U.S. Southern Command amidst the military’s buildup off Venezuela and strikes against drug boats. He retired early after tensions with Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth, with Gen. Dan Caine awarding him the Defense Distinguished Service Medal. Air Force Lt. Gen. Evan Lamar Pettus took over as acting commander, leading the ongoing strike campaign and facing scrutiny from lawmakers over deployment decisions and military presence in the region. Holsey’s retirement adds to the turnover of senior military officers under the Trump administration.

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