Top U.S. Military Leaders Visit Puerto Rico to Thank Troops Supporting Caribbean Missions

SAN JUAN, Puerto Rico — November 24, 2025 — Two of the U.S. military’s highest-ranking officials are visiting Puerto Rico to meet with troops and express appreciation for their role in supporting missions across the Caribbean and Latin America, Pentagon officials said Sunday.

Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff Gen. Dan Caine and Senior Enlisted Advisor to the Chairman David L. Isom are scheduled to visit service members stationed on the island and sailors operating at sea within the U.S. Southern Command (SOUTHCOM) area of responsibility. This marks their second visit to Puerto Rico this year.

The officials will engage with troops to acknowledge their contributions to regional security efforts, which include expanded naval operations in the Caribbean Sea amid heightened tensions near Venezuela. These efforts are part of a broader U.S. initiative to disrupt drug trafficking networks and enhance security across Latin America.

Earlier this year, in September, Gen. Caine and Secretary of War Pete Hegseth visited Puerto Rico to support troops training on the island. That visit included a meeting at Muñiz Air Base in Carolina, near San Juan, with senior military leaders such as Puerto Rico National Guard Adjutant General Carlos José Rivera-Román and Public Safety Secretary Brig. Gen. Arthur Garffer.

During the September visit, Hegseth addressed nearly 300 soldiers, praising their service and affirming the commitment to equip and prepare U.S. forces to the highest standards. The current visit continues this engagement amid the launch of Operation Southern Spear, a mission announced earlier this month aimed at targeting narco-terrorist networks throughout Latin America.

According to Pentagon officials, Operation Southern Spear is led by U.S. Southern Command and Joint Task Force Southern Spear, focusing on defending the homeland and dismantling illicit drug trafficking organizations in the Western Hemisphere.

The ongoing military presence and operations in the Caribbean reflect the U.S. government’s strategic priority to counter narcotics flows and enhance regional security, officials said.