Head of US military for Latin America to step down amid Venezuela tension

PHOTO CAPTION: Portrait of U.S. Navy Admiral Alvin Holsey via U.S. Southern Command

By Phil Stewart and Idrees Ali

WASHINGTON  -  The admiral who leads U.S. military forces in Latin America will step down at the end of this year, Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth announced on Thursday, in a surprise move amid escalating tensions with Venezuela.

Alvin Holsey took over the U.S. military's Southern Command late last year for a position that normally lasts three years. A source familiar with the matter told Reuters that there had been tension between him and Hegseth and questions about whether he would be fired in the days leading up to the announcement. 

Hegseth, in his social media post, did not disclose the reason for the departure of Holsey, who is one of only two Black four-star officers leading a U.S. combatant command.

On X, Holsey said he would retire on December 12, but did not give a reason.

"It's 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 that includes U.S.-guided missile destroyers, F-35 fighter jets and around 6,500 troops as President Donald Trump escalates a standoff with the Venezuelan government.

 (Reporting by Phil Stewart and Idrees Ali, Editing by Franklin Paul and Lisa Shumaker // REUTERS)