President Trump on Friday nominated a Marine general with expansive experience in special operations and the Middle East to lead the U.S. Southern Command as it deploys forces to ratchet up the administration’s pressure against Venezuela.
The nomination of Lt. Gen. Francis L. Donovan, who is currently the vice commander of the U.S. Special Operations Command, comes after Adm. Alvin Holsey abruptly retired as the head of the Southern Command. Defense officials said Admiral Holsey had concerns about the administration’s decision to target and kill people it accused of “narco-trafficking” in a series of boat strikes in the Caribbean and the eastern Pacific since Sept. 2.
If confirmed by the Senate, General Donovan would take over the leadership of the Southern Command as the strikes have come under sharp criticism from lawmakers from both parties, as well as from military experts who question the legality of the strikes.
The military on Thursday killed another five people accused by the Trump administration of trafficking narcotics by sea, Pentagon officials said. The two strikes bring the known death toll in the administration’s campaign to 104 people.
The risk of a larger violent clash with Venezuela has also grown as Mr. Trump has declared a blockade against some oil tankers going to and from the country. In response, President Nicolás Maduro has ordered his navy to escort ships carrying petroleum products from port.
General Donovan is well known in the American military, where he came up through the ranks, serving as an infantry, reconnaissance and special operations officer. He has led Marines in all three Marine Expeditionary Forces.
During the American military battles against the Houthi militia in Yemen, General Donovan, who was leading a Fifth Fleet amphibious task force operating in the southern Red Sea, was trying to figure out how the Houthis were targeting ships. He realized that the Houthis had managed to weaponize commercial radar systems that are commonly available in boating stores and had made them more portable. The Houthis were mounting the off-the-shelf radars on vehicles on the shore and moving them around.
He challenged his Marines to figure out something similar.
Within months, Marines deployed around the world were adapting Houthi-inspired mobile radar systems.
General Donovan, who comes from a military family, has also commanded two naval task forces. His nomination was sent to Congress on Thursday. If he is confirmed, he is expected to receive a fourth star.
Helene Cooper is a Pentagon correspondent for The Times. She was previously an editor, diplomatic correspondent and White House correspondent.
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