What are the primary mission types (counterterrorism, training, advising, air operations, drone strikes, special operations, deterrence) the US is conducting in each country in November 2025?
Executive summary
In November 2025 the clearest, best-documented U.S. mission is a major Caribbean/Atlantic deployment—Operation Southern Spear—framed publicly as a counter‑narcotics and deterrence campaign that has included maritime strikes, carrier and Marine deployments, expanded joint task forces, and reported CIA covert activity in Venezuela (noted by Hegseth and multiple outlets) [1] [2] [3]. Reporting also documents domestic federal force deployments inside the United States for protest and border operations, but available sources do not list a country‑by‑country catalogue for every mission type requested; the sources focus heavily on Venezuela/Caribbean activity and some domestic deployments [4] [1] [5].
1. Caribbean pressure campaign: counter‑narcotics, deterrence, and strikes
The central U.S. mission in November 2025 is Operation Southern Spear — an expanded Southern Command joint task force operating in the Caribbean and near Venezuela that the Pentagon describes as counter‑narcotics, interdiction, and deterrence; it has included a carrier strike group (USS Gerald R. Ford), amphibious forces, robotics/autonomous systems and reported maritime strikes on vessels accused of trafficking drugs [1] [6] [2]. Independent and U.S. outlets report at least 21 strikes with dozens of fatalities attributed to U.S. military action against alleged drug‑running vessels by mid‑November, a tally that has provoked international criticism and concern about escalation with Venezuelan forces [2] [7].
2. Venezuela: deterrence, expanded military presence, and covert activity
Multiple sources describe the near‑Venezuela posture as a blend of deterrence and pressure plus covert activity: Reuters and others report a military buildup and that President Trump authorized covert CIA operations in Venezuela while the FAA warned flights to the country amid “heightened military activity” [3]. Military.com and The Guardian say U.S. forces expanded a joint task force to disrupt narcotics networks and bolster partner defenses near Venezuela, while critics and some international ministers have argued these operations risk violating international law and escalating conflict [5] [7].
3. Use of air operations and special operations assets
Airpower and special operations features prominently in coverage: carrier air wings, AC‑130J presence at El Salvador’s Comalapa base and Marine aviation/MEU aviation activity are reported, and elements such as the 160th Special Operations Aviation Regiment have been identified among deployed forces—indicating active air operations and special operations support in the theater [1] [6]. Sources report strikes from U.S. forces on maritime targets as part of the campaign [2].
4. Drone strikes and remote systems: emphasis on robotics and autonomy
Reporting highlights that Southern Spear intends to employ robotics and autonomous systems within its fleet architecture, signaling an operational emphasis on remote sensing and lethal or non‑lethal engagement by unmanned platforms; the fleet’s stated use of such systems is central to the announced campaign approach [1] [6]. Precise country‑by‑country lists of drone‑strike activity are not provided in the available reporting (not found in current reporting).
5. Training, advising, and partner cooperation across the region
The U.S. has simultaneously conducted joint exercises and training with regional partners (e.g., Trinidad and Tobago, El Salvador hosting U.S. aircraft) to strengthen partner capacity and provide basing/logistical support—activities framed as both capacity‑building and force‑projection to interdict trafficking routes [1] [8]. CNN and Military.com document partner support and joint drills that underpin the U.S. posture [8] [5].
6. Domestic deployments and use of federal forces inside the U.S.
Inside the United States, reporting documents large National Guard and federal force deployments in 2025 tied to border enforcement and domestic operations; that reporting frames these as training‑like uses of forces with political implications and internal controversy, including arrests and disputes over the mission’s duration and scope [4]. These domestic missions are distinct from the Caribbean campaign and underscore an expanded use of U.S. forces both abroad and at home [4].
7. What the sources do not provide: a complete country‑by‑country matrix
Available sources concentrate on the Caribbean‑Venezuela theater and U.S. domestic deployments; they do not supply a fully enumerated, country‑by‑country breakdown for each mission type you listed (counterterrorism, training/advising, air operations, drone strikes, special operations, deterrence) across all countries in November 2025. For many nations, "not found in current reporting" is the accurate status when asked for specific operational types beyond the Caribbean and domestic examples (not found in current reporting).
8. Competing perspectives and implications
U.S. officials present Southern Spear as lawful counter‑narcotics and deterrence activity; critics—including the UN, some foreign ministers, and NGOs—argue strikes have killed civilians and risk unlawful extrajudicial executions and regional destabilization [2] [7]. Reuters and The Intercept highlight logistical and planning footprints that suggest a multi‑year posture in the Caribbean and possible escalation risks tied to covert activity and prolonged basing [9] [3].
Limitations: this analysis relies only on the supplied reporting, which is detailed on Caribbean/Venezuela operations and domestic U.S. deployments but does not catalog U.S. mission types in every country worldwide for November 2025 (limitations noted above).