Satellite imagery showed U.S. military planes at El Salvador International Airport, increasing the potential for operations in the region. Military aircraft started flying from the Central American country in mid-October, according to a New York Times (NYT) report.

The U.S. Southern Command (SOUTHCOM) has expanded deployments across the Caribbean and nearby waters, saying the deployments aim at carrying out Defense Department missions and "advance the president’s priorities to disrupt drug trafficking and protect the homeland."

Why It Matters

The deployment to El Salvador strengthens the U.S. ability to approach drug-trafficking operations from both the Caribbean and the Pacific, allowing faster response by staging more air assets at forward positions. As a strategic Pacific-s

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