U.S. military officials involved in President Donald Trump's expanding operations in Latin America have been required to sign unusual non-disclosure agreements, sources told Reuters. Senior defense officials said the approach has raised concerns over the true scope and aims of the mission.

Venezuela has repeatedly accused Washington of preparing for direct military intervention. Lawmakers in the U.S. Congress say they have been kept in the dark about key details, despite their oversight role in national security deployments.

The Pentagon's secrecy push comes as the United States dramatically increases its military presence in the region. Last week, the aircraft carrier USS Gerald Ford and accompanying warships, F-35 fighter jets and a nuclear-powered submarine were dispatched to Latin American waters, a move analysts say goes far beyond counter-narcotics needs.

Since early September, U.S. forces have carried out 13 strikes on vessels suspected of drug trafficking, mostly in the Caribbean, killing about 57 people. Officials confirmed that victims include nationals from Venezuela, Colombia and Ecuador, but released few other details.

Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth has also tightened access to information within the Pentagon, including requiring staff to obtain written approval before speaking to Congress and asking journalists to sign new access agreements, which has led to some media credentials being revoked.

Senator Lindsey Graham said Trump planned to present Congress with options for“possible military operations” directed at Venezuela and Colombia, as Washington intensifies accusations that both nations are enabling drug flows into the United States.

The escalating U.S. posture has heightened regional tensions, with leaders in Bogotá and Caracas rejecting what they describe as politically driven allegations. Critics warn that opaque military escalation risks miscalculation and destabilisation across Latin America at a volatile moment for regional security.

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