Major Marine Combat Unit Deploys to Puerto Rico

M.A. Dworkin

San Juan, P.R. - As part of Operation Southern Spear, the 24th Marine Expeditionary Unit (MEU) has been deployed to the Roosevelt Roads military base in Puerto Rico, and is now classified as  the “immediate crisis response force” in Latin America. 

Roughly 1,300 Marines from the 24th MEU are “officially” on hand to deal with the U.S. Pentagon’s ongoing mission to stem drug trafficking in the region. While MEUs often are embarked on Navy amphibious ships, the 24th is deployed as Littoral Combat Force-24 at the recently reopened Roosevelt Roads Naval Station in Celba, Puerto Rico. 

“The Marines and Sailors of LCF-24 are postured to execute all prescribed mission sets directed by our higher echelons of leadership in order to deter the threats facing our hemisphere today,” said Col. Ryan Lynch, the littoral combat force’s commander. “Our posture is active, our forces are integrated, and we are committed to standing as the regional security partner of choice.”

The U.S. has designated several drug cartels as terrorist groups in recent months, opening up actions the military can legally take against their operations. The Marine Corps also said that the force is certified to carry out missions supporting embassies or recover downed aircraft personnel. 

The amphibious transport dock the USS Fort Lauderdale, which had been part of the Iwo Jima Amphibious Ready Group, is remaining in the area to support the Marines. The Iwo Jima group participated in Operation Absolute Resolve, the Jan 3 attack on Venezuela that captured cartel puppet- dictator Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro. 

It should come as no surprise or coincidence that the newly arrived Marines landed in Puerto Rico as the U.S. has sent considerable military power to the Caribbean amid escalating threats by the Trump Administration against the dictator-led communist regime in Cuba. 

The U.S. DOJ recently indicted former Cuban dictator-President Raul Castro on charges of ordering the shooting down of two American planes in 1996.

Secretary of State Marco Rubio, who is an outspoken voice for regime change in the Caribbean island nation, remarked about Raul Castro after the indictment:

“He becomes a fugitive of justice…I’m not going to remark on how we’re going to get him here to stand trial. There are a number of ways we can go about getting him here.”     The aircraft carrier USS Nimitz and its escort warships entered the Caribbean waters this past week.