In surprise move, head of US military for Latin America to step down
By Phil Stewart and Idrees Ali
WASHINGTON (Reuters) – The admiral who commands U.S. military forces in Latin America will resign at the end of this year, Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth announced on Thursday, in a surprise move amid rising tensions with Venezuela.
Alvin Holsey took over the U.S. military’s Southern Command late last year for an assignment that would normally last three years. A source familiar with the matter told Reuters there was tension between him and Hegseth and questions about whether he would be fired in the days before the announcement.
In his social media post, Hegseth did not explain the reason for the departure of Holsey, one of two black four-star officers leading a combatant command in the United States.
At X, Holsey said he would retire on December 12 but did not give a reason.
“It has been an honor to serve our nation, the American people, and support and defend the Constitution for over 37 years,” he said.
Holsey’s departure comes against the backdrop of a military buildup in the Caribbean, including U.S. guided missile destroyers, F-35 fighter jets and about 6,500 troops, as President Donald Trump escalates tensions with the Venezuelan government.
(Reporting by Phil Stewart and Idrees Ali, Editing by Franklin Paul and Lisa Shumaker)
