标签： South America

During his Senate confirmation hearing on Thursday, Lieutenant General Francis Donovan, the nominee to lead U.S. Southern Command, expressed readiness to oversee expanded military operations in Latin America while acknowledging significant uncertainties about the mission’s duration and strategic objectives. The hearing before the Senate Armed Services Committee revealed substantial questions about the Trump administration’s long-term plans for the region.

If confirmed, Donovan would assume command of U.S. military operations across Latin America, replacing Navy Admiral Alvin Holsey who retired amid controversy over deadly strikes against alleged drug smuggling vessels. This military expansion represents one of the most substantial U.S. deployments in the region in generations, culminating in the recent deposition and apprehension of Venezuelan leader Nicolás Maduro.

Lawmakers from both parties pressed Donovan for specifics about the administration’s strategic vision. Senator Angus King (I-Maine) expressed astonishment when Donovan admitted he lacked details about why substantial military assets remained deployed throughout the region. ‘So you don’t know what the plan is now? You don’t know why all those ships and aircraft and soldiers are there?’ King inquired. Donovan attributed his limited knowledge to his current position as vice commander of U.S. Special Operations Command, which excludes him from regional military planning.

Despite this uncertainty, Donovan acknowledged that the renewed focus on Latin America would fundamentally transform Southern Command’s operations. When asked by Senator Mark Kelly (D-Arizona) whether the command would operate significantly differently due to this strategic pivot, Donovan responded affirmatively.

The hearing also addressed concerns about international law violations stemming from the administration’s boat strike policies and featured questioning of Lieutenant General Joshua Rudd, nominee to lead the National Security Agency. Senator Elissa Slotkin (D-Michigan) raised alarms about potential political targeting of Americans through surveillance capabilities, to which Rudd committed to operating within constitutional and legal boundaries. Both nominations are expected to receive approval despite these concerns.

CARACAS, Venezuela — Venezuela’s interim President Delcy Rodríguez delivered her inaugural state of the union address Thursday amid mounting political tensions, balancing competing demands from the United States government and loyalists of ousted leader Nicolás Maduro. The address to the National Assembly, dominated by the ruling party, outlined Rodríguez’s governance vision during this transitional period.

The speech followed Rodríguez’s announcement of continued prisoner releases from the Maduro era, characterizing the development as part of a ‘new political moment’ following the U.S.-orchestrated removal of her predecessor earlier this month. The acting president faces the complex task of reconciling Washington’s expectations with the influence of hardline factions controlling Venezuela’s security apparatus.

In a significant diplomatic development, U.S. President Donald Trump hosted Venezuelan opposition leader María Corina Machado at the White House on Thursday, despite having previously sidelined her by endorsing Rodríguez. Machado’s political coalition is widely recognized as the legitimate winner of the 2024 elections that Maduro had rejected.

Rodríguez confirmed following a Tuesday telephone discussion with Trump that her administration would dedicate ‘every dollar’ from petroleum revenues to revitalize Venezuela’s critically deteriorated public healthcare infrastructure. The nation’s medical facilities have suffered systemic collapse, requiring patients to provide even basic medical supplies ranging from syringes to surgical implements.

The interim leader operates under considerable pressure from Washington, having been sanctioned previously for human rights violations during Trump’s initial presidential term. Trump has explicitly threatened Rodríguez with consequences ‘probably worse than Maduro’ should she fail to cooperate with U.S. objectives regarding Venezuela’s oil industry restructuring.

Maduro remains incarcerated in a Brooklyn detention facility after pleading not guilty to narcotics trafficking allegations, while Rodríguez maneuvers through Venezuela’s complex political landscape.

United States Southern Command forces have conducted a sixth maritime interception operation in the Caribbean Sea as part of Washington’s escalating campaign to control Venezuelan oil exports. The vessel Veronica was boarded during a pre-dawn operation that military officials described as executed “without incident.”

The seizure occurred as the tanker was attempting to circumvent President Donald Trump’s sanctioned vessel quarantine program. “The only oil leaving Venezuela will be oil that is coordinated properly and lawfully,” stated the Southern Command in an official release.

This latest maritime enforcement action follows recent U.S. military strikes against Venezuela and the detention of President Nicolás Maduro earlier this month. The Trump administration has openly declared intentions to access the nation’s substantial petroleum reserves, estimated among the largest globally.

In a significant development, a U.S. official confirmed Wednesday the completion of the first sale of Venezuelan oil under American control, valued at approximately $500 million (£373 million). The transaction signals the operationalization of Washington’s strategy to monetize seized Venezuelan resources.

Thursday’s interception indicates the administration’s continued crackdown on the so-called “dark fleet” – an network of over 1,000 vessels specializing in transporting sanctioned petroleum products. The United States is currently collaborating with Venezuela’s interim government to establish control over the country’s oil sales infrastructure and revenue streams.

United States military forces have intercepted another Venezuelan-flagged oil tanker in the Caribbean Sea, marking the sixth such seizure in the Trump administration’s ongoing campaign to control Venezuela’s petroleum resources. The Motor Tanker Veronica was captured in a coordinated operation involving multiple branches of the U.S. military and law enforcement agencies.

Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem announced the seizure through social media channels, stating the vessel had previously navigated through Venezuelan waters while defying President Trump’s established quarantine protocol for sanctioned ships in the Caribbean region. The operation featured Marines and sailors deployed from the USS Gerald R. Ford aircraft carrier, with a specialized U.S. Coast Guard tactical team executing the actual boarding and seizure procedures.

Documentation of the mission released by officials includes black-and-white aerial footage showing military helicopters hovering above the merchant vessel’s deck as armed personnel descended via ropes to secure the tanker. This represents the fourth interception since the surprising nighttime raid that ousted Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro approximately two weeks ago.

Noem emphasized the interagency coordination behind the operation, noting collaboration with the State and Justice Departments alongside military counterparts. She praised Coast Guard personnel for executing what she characterized as a flawless operation conducted in compliance with international legal standards.

While administration officials publicly frame these seizures as law enforcement actions, other Republican officials acknowledge the financial motivations behind the campaign. The Trump administration aims to generate significant revenue through the sale of 30-50 million barrels of sanctioned Venezuelan oil, with broader plans to invest $100 billion in rebuilding Venezuela’s damaged oil infrastructure and revitalizing its economy.

Havana witnessed solemn processions as Cuba received the remains of 32 military and security personnel killed during recent U.S. military operations in Venezuela. The soldiers, who served as protection officers for Venezuelan leader Nicolás Maduro, perished during the January 3rd raid in Caracas that resulted in Maduro’s extraction to New York to face drug trafficking charges.

The Venezuelan government reports over 100 casualties during the operation, marking the deadliest incident for Cuban combatants since the 1961 Bay of Pigs invasion. The fallen soldiers’ remains arrived in Havana for formal military ceremonies, where they will be honored at the Ministry of the Armed Forces before public viewings and subsequent burials across the island.

In response to the incident, protests are scheduled outside the U.S. embassy in Havana on Friday. The confrontation has intensified geopolitical tensions, with President Donald Trump maintaining pressure on Cuba by announcing that Venezuela’s interim government under Delcy Rodríguez would cease oil exports to the island nation.

This energy cutoff represents a severe blow to Cuba’s already strained economy, which has been grappling with acute shortages and depends heavily on Venezuelan petroleum. The Cuban government has vowed to resist Washington’s pressure and economic embargo, though citizens express growing concerns about worsening electricity shortages and food scarcity amid escalating hostilities with the United States.

The U.S. military intervention included air strikes supporting elite units that targeted Maduro’s compound, significantly altering the regional power dynamics and testing the decades-old alliance between Cuba and Venezuela.

HAVANA — In an emotionally charged ceremony marking Cuba’s first mass funeral in decades, the nation honored 32 military officers killed during a recent operation in Venezuela. The solemn event unfolded at Havana’s airport where uniformed soldiers carried urns containing the remains of the deceased personnel amid trumpet and drum tributes.

Thousands of citizens lined the iconic streets of the capital as military vehicles transported the remains to the Ministry of the Armed Forces headquarters adjacent to Revolution Square. The ceremony featured President Miguel Díaz-Canel and former leader Raúl Castro, both appearing in military attire, standing in silent tribute alongside grieving family members.

The fatalities occurred during what Cuban authorities describe as a security protection detail for Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro during a January 3rd raid on his residence. The deceased personnel, ranging from colonels to captains aged 26-60, were reportedly fulfilling bilateral protection agreements between Cuba and Venezuela.

This mourning ceremony occurs against escalating diplomatic tensions with the United States. The Trump administration recently issued warnings to Cuba regarding its relationship with Venezuela, threatening potential catastrophic consequences for the island nation’s already fragile energy infrastructure. In a contrasting move, the U.S. simultaneously announced $3 million in hurricane recovery aid, which Cuban officials denounced as politically motivated manipulation.

Analysts note the rarity of such state-organized funerals, with comparable ceremonies occurring only three times in the past half-century: for victims of the 1976 Cubana de Aviación bombing, casualties from Angola’s conflict in 1989, and the 1997 memorial for revolutionary Ernesto ‘Che’ Guevara.

The Cuban government has announced plans for a major demonstration at the Anti-Imperialist Tribune facing the U.S. Embassy, with officials anticipating substantial public participation reflecting widespread national sentiment.

In a significant diplomatic development, Venezuelan opposition figure María Corina Machado convened with former U.S. President Donald Trump at the White House on Thursday, despite his previously expressed reservations about her political viability. The meeting occurred against the backdrop of ongoing U.S. engagement with Venezuela’s acting leadership following the dramatic capture of former President Nicolás Maduro.

White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt characterized the encounter as a ‘frank and positive discussion’ regarding Venezuela’s political landscape, acknowledging Machado as ‘a remarkable and brave voice’ while maintaining that Trump’s assessment of her limited domestic support remained unchanged. The administration simultaneously continues to recognize acting President Delcy Rodríguez, Maduro’s former deputy, who maintains operational control of government functions and delivered her inaugural state of the union address Thursday.

This diplomatic balancing act reflects the complexity of U.S.-Venezuela relations following the audacious military operation that apprehended Maduro. The Trump administration has implemented sweeping measures targeting Venezuela’s oil industry, including recent seizures of sanctioned tankers in the Caribbean, as part of broader efforts to dismantle the previous regime’s economic infrastructure.

Notably, Rodríguez’s government has demonstrated cooperation by releasing political prisoners detained under Maduro, including five American citizens this week. Her administration has adopted a less confrontational stance toward Trump’s ‘America First’ policies than initially anticipated, suggesting potential for continued dialogue.

Machado’s political journey spans nearly two decades of opposition leadership, beginning with her co-founding of the Súmate organization that challenged Hugo Chávez’s government. Her 2004 Oval Office meeting with President George W. Bush became emblematic of her opposition stance, drawing fierce criticism from Chávez. Despite allegedly winning the 2024 election rejected by Maduro, Machado has faced consistent skepticism from Trump regarding her capacity to govern effectively.

WASHINGTON — Senior Trump administration official Stephen Miller articulated a controversial worldview that laid the ideological groundwork for the recent military operation that deposed Venezuelan leader Nicolás Maduro. More than a year before the intervention, Miller asserted that Maduro had been systematically dispatching gang members across the U.S. border, framing the situation as a national security crisis.

As White House chief of staff for policy, Miller’s influence on the administration’s foreign policy approach has been substantial. His assertions that Western aid to developing nations constitutes ‘reverse colonization’ and that Venezuela’s oil industry was ‘stolen from American companies’ have drawn sharp criticism from international observers and political opponents.

The administration’s actions have prompted a strong response from regional powers. A joint statement from Spain and five Latin American nations called for adherence to principles of “mutual respect, peaceful dispute resolution, and nonintervention.” Senator Bernie Sanders (I-Vt.) characterized the Venezuela policy as “old-fashioned imperialism.”

Miller defended his position in multiple media appearances, arguing that “the iron laws of the world” are governed by strength and power rather than international norms. He dismissed concerns about sovereignty, stating that the United States as a superpower would “unapologetically secure our interests in our hemisphere.” The policy aide also controversially suggested that U.S. military occupation of Greenland would face no significant opposition.

White House spokesperson Abigail Jackson countered criticism, stating: “Advocating for policies that put American citizens first isn’t racist. Anyone who says so is either intentionally lying or just plain stupid.”

Miller has since shifted focus to domestic immigration enforcement, recently condemning anti-ICE protests following a controversial operation in Minneapolis. His social media statements characterized Democratic opposition as support for “violent resistance against federal law enforcement,” claiming alternative policies would turn American cities into equivalents of Mogadishu or Kabul.