标签： South America

BOGOTÁ, Colombia — Colombian President Gustavo Petro has launched an unprecedented diplomatic offensive against the United States following its military operation to capture Venezuelan leader Nicolás Maduro, creating the most severe bilateral crisis in decades between the traditional allies.

The left-wing leader condemned Washington’s actions as an “abhorrent violation of Latin American sovereignty” and drew historical parallels to Nazi Germany’s 1937 bombing of Guernica, Spain. In a dramatic escalation, Petro called for street protests to defend national sovereignty and convened emergency meetings with both the United Nations and Organization of American States.

The confrontation places Colombia in an increasingly precarious position. As America’s staunchest regional partner for thirty years, Colombia now balances maintaining crucial security cooperation against Petro’s political imperative to challenge Washington. The country remains central to U.S. counternarcotics strategy as the world’s primary cocaine producer, with experts noting Colombia provides vital intelligence for Caribbean drug interdiction efforts.

Michael Shifter of the Inter-American Dialogue think tank observed: “People are trying to tell Trump: ‘Look, you can punish Petro to the extent possible, but you don’t want to punish the country. That undermines the fight against drugs and is going to be harmful for the United States.’ But Trump is completely unpredictable.”

The animosity between leaders has been brewing for months. Petro has turned back U.S. military deportation flights, criticized drug interdiction methods as “murder,” and clashed with Trump over Gaza and immigration policies. Trump has responded by revoking Petro’s visa, imposing sanctions on his administration, threatening punitive tariffs, and labeling him a “lunatic” and “international drug leader.”

Despite the rhetoric, analysts consider actual military action against Colombia—a democratic nation unlike Venezuela—highly improbable. However, Trump’s increasing militaristic language about Latin America has caused growing alarm in Bogotá. Defense Minister Pedro Sánchez sought to reassure citizens that security cooperation continues uninterrupted, noting Washington has provided approximately $14 billion in assistance over two decades.

Foreign Minister Rosa Villavicencio confirmed Colombia is pursuing diplomatic solutions while preparing for “the possibility of aggression against our country by the United States,” highlighting the nation’s “highly trained, very well prepared army” that has long received U.S. training.

In a significant reshuffle of Venezuela’s security apparatus, Interim President Delcy Rodríguez has dismissed General Javier Marcano Tábata from his command of the presidential honor guard. This move comes just days after U.S. forces conducted a dramatic raid in Caracas, capturing former President Nicolás Maduro and transporting him to New York to face narco-terrorism charges.

The presidential honor guard, responsible for the head of state’s personal security, suffered substantial casualties during the operation. While official numbers remain undisclosed, Venezuelan military sources confirm 23 fatalities, including five generals. Notably, Cuba reported 32 of its nationals killed, many believed to be embedded within Maduro’s protection detail.

Rodríguez, sworn in by the government-loyal National Assembly, faces immense pressure from Washington. President Donald Trump has demanded compliance with U.S. interests, including access to Venezuela’s vast oil reserves—the world’s largest proven stockpile. Trump explicitly threatened Rodríguez with a ‘fate worse than Maduro’s’ for non-compliance, while simultaneously claiming Venezuela would ‘turn over’ up to 50 million barrels of oil to the United States.

The interim government’s response has oscillated between defiance and conciliation. Rodríguez condemned Maduro’s capture as an ‘illegal kidnapping’ yet extended an invitation for bilateral cooperation. Analysts suggest General Marcano Tábata’s removal relates primarily to his unit’s failure to prevent Maduro’s seizure rather than his concurrent leadership of the military counterintelligence unit (DGCIM)—an organization documented by UN investigators for systematic human rights abuses including torture and sexual violence.

His replacement, Gustavo González López, formerly headed Venezuela’s national intelligence service (Sebin), which faces similar accusations of suppressing dissent through its control of Caracas’ notorious Helicoide prison. This suggests the dismissal represents a consolidation of trusted allies rather than a policy shift away from repression.

With Trump acknowledging prepared secondary strikes against remaining hardliners—including Interior Minister Diosdado Cabello, who faces a $25 million U.S. bounty for alleged narco-trafficking—Rodríguez’s leadership balances domestic credibility against existential external threats. The security apparatus reorganization signals her attempt to stabilize control amid heightened vulnerability.

The Trump administration has dramatically escalated its economic campaign against Venezuela by simultaneously seizing sanctioned oil tankers and announcing plans to relax certain sanctions, effectively establishing U.S. control over the distribution of Venezuelan petroleum worldwide.

On Wednesday, U.S. authorities confirmed the seizure of two additional vessels—the Bella 1 (later renamed Marinera) in the North Atlantic and the M Sophia in the Caribbean Sea—bringing the total to at least four tankers intercepted this month. Both vessels were allegedly violating U.S. sanctions by transporting Venezuelan oil. The Bella 1 notably attempted evasion by repainting its hull with Russian flags and altering its course after the U.S. Coast Guard initiated pursuit.

Concurrently, the Energy Department unveiled plans to selectively ease sanctions, enabling the global sale of Venezuelan oil through U.S.-approved channels. The initiative will commence immediately with 30-50 million barrels, with proceeds directed to U.S.-controlled accounts at internationally recognized banks. The administration indicated these funds would be distributed to American and Venezuelan populations at its discretion.

Senior officials framed these actions as strategic measures to pressure the Maduro regime without military engagement. Vice President JD Vance stated, ‘We control the energy resources, and we tell the regime, you’re allowed to sell the oil so long as you serve America’s national interest.’ Secretary of State Marco Rubio suggested intercepted oil would be incorporated into bilateral agreements with Venezuela’s interim authorities.

The moves have drawn international criticism, with Russian officials denouncing the seizures as ‘blatant piracy’ and demanding protection for Russian crew members. Maritime intelligence firms identified both vessels as part of a ‘shadow fleet’ facilitating oil smuggling for sanctioned nations including Venezuela, Russia, and Iran.

Beyond energy controls, the administration plans to authorize equipment imports to boost Venezuela’s oil production—currently languishing at approximately 1 million barrels daily—and invest in the country’s deteriorated electricity grid to improve living conditions amid economic collapse.

Venezuela remains gripped by profound uncertainty following the dramatic seizure of President Nicolás Maduro by United States forces. The operation, which resulted in dozens of casualties including 32 members of Cuban security forces according to Cuban officials, has created a complex and divided national response.

In Caracas, student Marcelo represents many Venezuelans who cautiously welcome Maduro’s capture but refrain from public celebration due to safety concerns. ‘The majority of Venezuelans are very happy for what happened,’ Marcelo told BBC, noting that Maduro’s allies remain in power despite his capture. This sentiment is echoed by an opposition activist from Maracaibo who acknowledged the tragic loss of life but expressed relief that ‘the man they took away has done a lot of harm.’

However, substantial support for Maduro persists among segments of the population. Rosa Contreras, 57, described feeling ‘humiliated’ by the ease with which US forces captured Venezuela’s leader. She found inspiration in images of Maduro waving upon arrival in the US, interpreting it as a message to ‘stand tall and keep going.’

The political transition has seen Vice President Delcy Rodríguez, Maduro’s closest lieutenant, assume interim power. Under her leadership, security forces have intensified street patrols and detained journalists, creating an atmosphere of apprehension. A 34-year-old entrepreneur reported military presence on every corner and armed civilian groups supporting the government, generating widespread fear among citizens.

Economic concerns continue to plague ordinary Venezuelans, with reports of staple food prices skyrocketing—cornflour tripling in cost and bread increasing by approximately 30%. Many supermarkets now feature military guards as owners fear theft and robbery amid the instability.

The future remains particularly uncertain as President Trump has not ruled out additional military action. Gelén Correa, a government social program worker, defiantly stated that Venezuelans would be ‘armed to the teeth’ against any further US incursions.

Despite the dramatic change in leadership, some Venezuelans like 60-year-old José doubt meaningful change will occur, noting that ‘they took the leader out but the regime is the same.’ Millions who fled Venezuela during Maduro’s rule await signs of genuine political transformation before considering return, hoping for an end to Chavismo—the socialist movement established by Hugo Chávez.

In an unprecedented military operation, U.S. forces have extracted Venezuelan authoritarian leader Nicolás Maduro from his Caracas residence, transporting him to New York to face drug trafficking charges. However, the anticipated democratic transition has stalled as President Donald Trump unexpectedly endorsed Maduro’s vice president, Delcy Rodríguez, to assume control rather than supporting the internationally recognized opposition.

The development represents a devastating setback for Venezuela’s opposition movement, which had spent years preparing for Maduro’s removal with bipartisan U.S. support. Instead of installing opposition leadership, the Trump administration has chosen to work with Rodríguez, a key figure from Maduro’s repressive regime.

Most prominent opposition leaders, including Nobel Peace Prize laureate María Corina Machado, remain either imprisoned or in exile. Machado, despite being the legitimate winner of the 2024 presidential election according to detailed tally sheets and international recognition, was barred from running by Maduro’s government and ultimately represented by proxy candidate Edmundo González Urrutia.

Trump publicly expressed skepticism about Machado’s leadership capabilities, stating she lacks sufficient domestic support and respect. Ironically, Machado’s consistent praise for Trump—including dedicating her Nobel Prize to him and supporting aggressive U.S. policies toward Venezuelan migrants—has diminished her popularity at home.

Constitutional uncertainties cloud Venezuela’s political future. While the constitution mandates elections within 30 days when a president becomes permanently unavailable, Maduro loyalists in the Supreme Court have declared his absence temporary, allowing Rodríguez to assume power for up to 90 days, extendable to six months with legislative approval.

Secretary of State Marco Rubio attempted to clarify Trump’s controversial statement about the U.S. “running” Venezuela, emphasizing instead that Washington would leverage control over Venezuela’s oil industry—home to the world’s largest proven crude reserves—to force policy changes.

The opposition now faces monumental challenges: both Machado and González remain in exile, while Rodríguez consolidates power among ruling party factions. Experts warn that bypassing the legitimate opposition movement risks damaging Venezuela’s democratic spirit and humiliating citizens who voted overwhelmingly for change.