Frank Donovan

Force in Play

Commanding SOUTHCOM by May 2026, per SOUTHCOM posts and New York Post reporting that identify him as Gen. Francis L. Donovan. Sources found do not report the Senate confirmation outcome.

The U.S. military's boat-strike campaign in the Caribbean and eastern Pacific has run for more than a year. An independent tally counted 72 strikes and at least 240 deaths by the Oct. 27 attack, which killed five people on a go-fast vessel in the eastern Pacific.

Updated Oct 28

Force in Play

As of May 2026: Nominated to lead SOUTHCOM amid the Caribbean deployment and Venezuela maritime escalation; confirmation pending.

Trump's Venezuela "blockade" threat is now backed by policy. Washington has added new Venezuela-linked sanctions and also targeted Iran's shadow-fleet network. Together, these expand the pool of already-sanctioned vessels that the U.S. Navy could board if they try to trade with Venezuela.

Updated May 15