Admiral Alvin Holsey – the top officer of the US armed forces, who was in charge of the operation off the coast of Venezuela, where at least six vessels that Washington believed were carrying drugs, have been hit, announced on Thursday his upcoming retirement, after just one year in the position.

African-American Rear Adm. Holsey will “retire from the Navy,” he said in a message released by his services through X, without explaining the reasons for his early retirement, after “37-plus years” in the U.S. armed forces at age 60.

In the early years of his long career he was a naval aviation helicopter pilot, specializing in anti-submarine warfare, among other things.

Holsey will step down as head of SOUTHCOM, the joint command responsible for the South and Central America region, on December 12.

The background to his resignation as purges continue in the Armed Forces

After returning to the White House in January, Donald Trump proceeded with what many saw as purges in the top echelons of the armed forces.

A source of the news agency Reuters spoke about tensions between the admiral and Defense Secretary Pete Hegsethwhich was reportedly even considering removing the seasoned officer.

The former chief of the national defense staff, Air Force One Charles “Si Q” Brown, also an African-American, was removed from the post without explanation in February.

Other top officers or officials, such as the first woman to lead the Navy, the first head of the Coast Guard, the head of the NSA, the deputy head of the National Security Agency, or even an admiral who served in NATO, have also either resigned or been relieved of their duties this year.

The chief of the air force general staff also announced in mid-August his early retirement after two years, instead of the usual four.

The tension with Venezuela and the attempts to overthrow Maduro continue

Washington has developed impressive firepower – including seven warships, a nuclear powered submarine, latest generation F-35 fighter jets, etc. – in the context of what it presents as an operation against drug trafficking in the Caribbean.

At least 27 people have been killed in strikes against five speedboats who, according to the USA, transported drugs from the beginning of September until here. The legality of these strikes, in foreign or international waters, is questionable. Critics of President Trump’s administration speak of extrajudicial killings and violation of international law of the sea.

Washington accuses Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro and his government of running a drug-trafficking cartel destined for the US market and, earlier this year, doubled to $50 million the reward it is offering for information leading to Mr. Maduro’s arrest. Caracas vehemently denies these claims and in turn accuses the US government of using drug trafficking as a pretext to impose “regime change” in order to get its hands on Venezuela’s vast oil reserves.

On Wednesday, President Trump confirmed that he had ordered the CIA to conduct covert operations in Venezuela as Washington steps up efforts to topple the Maduro government.