US military required to sign confidentiality agreements linked to Latin America mission: Reuters
WASHINGTON (Reuters) – U.S. military officers involved in President Donald Trump’s expanding operations in Latin America have been asked to sign confidentiality agreements, three U.S. officials said, a development that raises new questions about a military buildup that Venezuela fears could lead to an invasion.
The move is highly unusual, given that U.S. military officials are already required to protect national security secrets from public view, and comes as lawmakers in Congress say they are being kept in the dark about key aspects of the mission.
The officials who spoke to Reuters on condition of anonymity did not know how many members of the U.S. Defense Department had been asked to sign the agreements and did not offer further details about the scope of the NDAs.
While the Defense Department has resorted to nondisclosure agreements from time to time since Pete Hegseth became defense secretary in January, the Pentagon’s use of nondisclosure agreements specific to activities in Latin America has not been previously reported.
The Pentagon last week announced the deployment of the Gerald Ford aircraft carrier group to Latin America, intensifying a military buildup that experts say far exceeds any requirements for counternarcotics operations — the stated intent of the U.S. mission so far.
The US military has carried out at least 13 attacks on suspected drug trafficking vessels, mostly in the Caribbean, since early September, killing about 57 people. The Pentagon has provided few details about the people attacked, but has acknowledged that they include people from Venezuela, Colombia and Ecuador.
The carrier strike group adds another roughly 10,000 troops and massive firepower to a buildup that already includes guided-missile destroyers, F-35 fighter jets, a nuclear submarine and about 6,500 troops.
The Pentagon has not explained why such firepower is required for counternarcotics operations.
Hegseth has taken a series of steps to try to control the flow of information since taking control of the Pentagon in January. He told Pentagon staff they must obtain permission before interacting with members of Congress, according to an Oct. 15 memo. He also launched investigations into leaks and required Pentagon journalists to sign a new press access policy, removing the credentials of those who did not.
The Pentagon did not immediately respond to a request for comment.
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DRUG TRADE
The Trump administration has been directly linking the governments of Venezuela and, more recently, neighboring Colombia to drug trafficking, accusations denied by both governments. However, the claims have raised concerns that the US military could be tasked with carrying out attacks in both countries.
Sen. Lindsey Graham, a top Republican lawmaker with close ties to Trump, suggested in a television interview on Sunday that Trump would soon describe to Congress “possible future military operations against Venezuela and Colombia.”
In August, Washington doubled its reward for information leading to Maduro’s arrest to $50 million, accusing him of ties to drug trafficking and criminal groups that Maduro denies.
Tensions between the United States and Venezuela’s neighbor Colombia have also increased in recent days, with Trump accusing Colombian President Gustavo Petro of being an “illegal drugs leader” and a “bad guy,” language Petro’s government finds offensive. Washington imposed sanctions on Petro on Friday.
Graham said Trump had all the authority he needed to conduct operations in Latin America.
“These military assets are stepping up to deal with a country that has blood on its hands when it comes to Americans by flooding our country with drugs from Venezuela and Colombia,” Graham told News’ “Face the Nation” with Margaret Brennan.
“So I hope Maduro leaves peacefully, but I don’t think he’ll stay much longer.”
(Reporting by Phil Stewart; additional reporting by Idrees Ali; Editing by Nick Zieminski)