Not just Russia: US is sending nuclear submarine to another region
Photo: The US intends to step up the fight against drug cartels (Getty Images)
The United States is sending more than 4,000 Marines and sailors to the waters of Latin America and the Caribbean as part of intensified actions against drug cartels, CNN reports.
One of the officials stated that the deployment of the Iwo Jima Amphibious Ready Group (ARG) and the 22nd Marine Expeditionary Unit to US Southern Command is part of a larger redeployment of military forces in SOUTHCOM’s area of responsibility, which has been ongoing for the past three weeks.
Also, as part of the mission, Southern Command will receive a nuclear attack submarine, an additional P-8 Poseidon reconnaissance aircraft, several destroyers, and a guided-missile cruiser.
A third source said the additional assets are “aimed at addressing threats to US national security from specially designated narco-terrorist organizations in the region.”
One of the media’s interlocutors stressed that the buildup of military power so far is mostly demonstrative in nature and is intended more as a signal than as a display of intent to carry out precision strikes against the cartels.
At the same time, such a move gives the American military command and the US President a wide range of options in case Donald Trump issues an order for military action.
CNN recalled that earlier this year, US Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth signed a memorandum. It stated that the “foremost priority” of the US Army is the defense of the homeland, and the Pentagon was tasked with the following:
“Seal our borders, repel forms of invasion including unlawful mass migration, narcotics trafficking, human smuggling and trafficking, and other criminal activities, and deport illegal aliens in coordination with the Department of Homeland Security,” the document said.
US redeploys submarines
In early August, US President Donald Trump ordered two nuclear submarines to be moved to Russian shores. Shortly afterward, Trump confirmed that the vessels were in the region near Russia.
The reason for such steps was statements by Russian Security Council Deputy Chairman Dmitry Medvedev. Against the backdrop of Trump’s ultimatum to the Kremlin leader regarding the war in Ukraine, Medvedev declared that Trump’s demands were “a step toward war with Russia.” There were also nuclear threats.
