STORY: The admiral in charge of U.S. military forces in Latin America retired two years early in a ceremony on Friday.
His departure comes amid rising tension with Venezuela and after Wednesday's seizure of an oil tanker and more than 20 deadly strikes on suspected drug-smuggling boats.
Five sources told Reuters that Admiral Alvin Holsey was pushed out by Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth.
Two officials said Hegseth had grown frustrated with Southern Command as he sought to flex U.S. military operations and planning in the region.
Holsey announced in October his intent to step down in December but has not publicly explained his early retirement.
Speaking between rows of palm trees at Southern Command headquarters in Miami, he called on the United States to keep standing by fellow democracies that share U.S. values.
"We must always be there for like-minded partners, like-minded nations who share our values: democracy, rule of law and human rights."
Some officials have privately speculated that he opposed the recent U.S. strikes on suspected drug vessels in the Caribbean.
However, in a closed-door meeting with senior lawmakers on Tuesday, Holsey insisted that his decision had nothing to do with the operations in his command.
That's according to comments by Republican Representative Mike Rogers published in Politico.
Holsey is the latest in a series of senior officers to leave their positions since Hegseth took over the Pentagon.
