US military’s Operation Southern Spear has cost more than $640 million
Operation Southern Spear, aimed at combating drug smuggling in the Caribbean, has incurred costs exceeding $640 million since its inception. The mission has faced scrutiny regarding its lethal tactics and decision-making processes for targeting vessels. A new evaluation by the Department of War Office of the Inspector General is set to assess whether established targeting protocols were followed during operations.
- ▪Operation Southern Spear has cost taxpayers approximately $647 million as of March 31, 2026.
- ▪The U.S. Southern Command has conducted at least 10 kinetic strikes since the cost analysis cutoff date.
- ▪The Pentagon has stated that the strikes are legal despite concerns raised by lawmakers.
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Operation Southern Spear — the name given to the U.S. military mission to stop the flow of illegal drugs in the Caribbean Sea with the lethal targeting of mariners accused of smuggling — has cost more than $600 million from the time the mission started through the first quarter of 2026. During that time, the mission has cost taxpayers roughly $647 million, according to a new report from the Department of War Office of the Inspector General, which was released on Thursday. The cutoff for the cost analysis was March 31, and U.S. Southern Command has conducted at least 10 kinetic strikes since then, presumably bringing the total cost even higher than the $647 million figure.
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