Expert Warns Against Military Focus on Venezuela Drug Issues

Former officials are questioning the rationale behind the Trump administration’s recent military strategies concerning drug trafficking from Venezuela. Frank Rose, who served as the assistant secretary of state for arms control, verification, and compliance under President Barack Obama, argues that focusing military resources on this issue could divert attention from more pressing national security threats posed by countries such as China, North Korea, Russia, and Iran.

In a statement, Rose criticized President Donald Trump’s decision to deploy U.S. Navy assets to the Caribbean aimed at combating drug smuggling from Venezuela and other Latin American countries. He believes that these resources would be better utilized in the Indo-Pacific and Europe, where they can effectively deter state-level threats.

“We are witnessing a revolution in warfare,” Rose stated in an interview with The Mirror US. He highlighted the changing nature of global conflicts, citing advancements such as drone technology and precision strikes as significant factors reshaping military strategies. Rose emphasized the necessity for the Pentagon to concentrate on threats from state actors rather than pursuing drug traffickers in Latin America.

China’s expanding naval capabilities are a major concern for U.S. security, according to Rose. He noted that the Chinese navy’s shipbuilding efforts are approximately 200% larger than those of the United States. “My priority would be to deploy the U.S. Navy’s available assets to the Indo-Pacific as a deterrent to China,” he said.

Rose argues that the deployment of Navy resources to combat drug trafficking represents a misallocation of military assets. He pointed out that every hour and dollar spent on such operations detracts from preparing to confront more significant national security challenges. “You don’t deter Beijing by chasing cocaine smugglers in the Caribbean,” he asserted.

While acknowledging the seriousness of the drug influx into the U.S., Rose suggested that military intervention is not the appropriate response. He believes that law enforcement and intelligence capabilities should be utilized more effectively to address this problem. Rose expressed concern regarding Trump’s inclination to consider military strikes against Venezuelan installations linked to drug trafficking organizations, allegedly led by Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro.

The administration’s recent military activities have included successful strikes against vessels in the Gulf of Mexico and the Pacific Ocean, reportedly leading to over 60 fatalities. Despite this, Rose expressed skepticism about the strategic objectives behind these actions. “Honestly, I don’t know what the strategic objective of the deployment is,” he remarked, questioning whether it serves merely as a political message to Maduro.

The deployment of aircraft carrier battle groups is a costly endeavor, especially when used for high-tempo combat operations. With only 11 aircraft carriers currently commissioned, and often less than half available for deployment at any given time, Rose argued for a more strategic approach to military resource allocation. He believes that a significant portion of the U.S. Navy’s assets should be redirected to counter threats from state actors like China, North Korea, Russia, and Iran.

“Let’s keep our war fighters focused on the threats that only they can deter,” Rose concluded, advocating for a clear distinction between military operations and other forms of intervention. He suggested that if law enforcement and intelligence agencies require additional resources, efforts should be made to provide them rather than repurposing military assets. This strategy, he argued, would allow the U.S. military to concentrate on the key threats that demand their unique capabilities.