标签： South America

WEST PALM BEACH, Fla. — President Donald Trump convened a high-level national security briefing at his Mar-a-Lago resort on Monday amid significant escalations in U.S. operations targeting Venezuelan oil shipments. The meeting included Secretary of State Marco Rubio, Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth, and Navy Secretary John Phelan, with the White House hinting at an impending “major announcement” regarding naval initiatives.

The gathering occurs as U.S. Coast Guard and Navy forces intensify interdiction efforts against sanctioned oil tankers in the Caribbean Sea. According to an unnamed White House official, these operations target Venezuela’s “dark fleet”—vessels operating with false flags and judicial seizure orders to circumvent U.S. sanctions. This marks the third such pursuit in recent weeks, following the seizures of the Panama-flagged tanker ‘Centuries’ on Saturday and the sanctioned vessel ‘Skipper’ on December 10.

Concurrently, European intelligence sources report that Russia’s Foreign Ministry has begun evacuating families of diplomats from Venezuela, describing the situation in “very grim tones.” This development suggests growing international concern over the escalating pressure campaign.

The administration’s strategy has evolved from its initial focus on curbing drug trafficking to a broader coercive effort against Nicolás Maduro’s government. President Trump has repeatedly asserted that Maduro’s tenure is nearing its end and recently demanded the return of assets seized from U.S. oil companies, justifying what he termed a “blockade” against Venezuelan-bound tankers.

Meanwhile, the Defense Department continues its controversial counter-narcotics operations in the Caribbean and eastern Pacific, conducting at least 28 known strikes since September that have resulted in 104 fatalities. These actions face mounting criticism from lawmakers and human rights advocates who question the evidence behind targeting decisions and raise concerns about extrajudicial killings.

The United States Coast Guard has initiated pursuit operations against another sanctioned oil tanker in Caribbean waters, marking the latest escalation in the Trump administration’s intensified campaign targeting Venezuelan energy shipments. This development follows Saturday’s predawn seizure of the Panama-flagged tanker ‘Centuries,’ which authorities identified as operating under false registration as part of Venezuela’s shadow fleet for illicit oil transportation.

According to a U.S. official familiar with the ongoing operation, Sunday’s pursuit involves a sanctioned vessel from the ‘dark fleet’ that facilitates Venezuela’s sanctions evasion efforts. The official, speaking anonymously due to operational sensitivities, confirmed the target vessel was flying false colors and subject to a judicial seizure order. This represents the third such action in under two weeks, following the December 10th interception of the unflagged tanker ‘Skipper’ with U.S. Navy support.

The maritime enforcement surge coincides with President Trump’s increasingly confrontational rhetoric toward Venezuelan leader Nicolás Maduro. Trump has vowed to implement a full naval ‘blockade’ against Venezuela and warned that Maduro’s tenure faces imminent conclusion. Administration officials justify these measures as necessary to recover assets seized from American oil companies during Venezuela’s industry nationalization, citing a 2014 international arbitration ruling that ordered $1.6 billion in compensation to ExxonMobil.

These interdiction operations form part of broader regional security initiatives that include narcotics enforcement. Since September, the Defense Department has conducted at least 28 documented strikes against vessels suspected of smuggling fentanyl and other illegal drugs through Caribbean and Eastern Pacific corridors, resulting in over 100 casualties. The coordinated maritime strategy reflects the administration’s multi-front approach to pressuring Venezuela’s socialist government while combating transnational narcotics trafficking.

WASHINGTON — Secretary of State Marco Rubio is scheduled to conduct a formal press briefing on Friday, marking a significant departure from the State Department’s recent media engagement practices. This year-end appearance, the first utilization of the briefing room since August, will primarily address three pressing international issues: ongoing Russia-Ukraine peace negotiations, Israel-Hamas conflict resolution efforts, and escalating military operations targeting Venezuelan narcoterrorism.

The diplomatic spotlight intensifies as key meetings regarding Gaza and Russia-Ukraine are concurrently scheduled in Miami on Friday and Saturday. Secretary Rubio, who has concurrently assumed the role of national security adviser, has emerged as the principal architect and defender of President Trump’s ‘America First’ foreign policy doctrine. His tenure has witnessed substantial transformations in visa regulations, foreign assistance frameworks, and departmental reorganization efforts.

The timing of this press conference coincides with critical diplomatic movements. Special Envoy Steve Witkoff is poised to engage with senior officials from Egypt, Turkey, and Qatar to advance the Republican administration’s Gaza ceasefire initiative, which has experienced sluggish progress since its October announcement. The proposed framework involves establishing a ‘Board of Peace’ to govern post-conflict Gaza and deploying an international stabilization force.

Simultaneously, Saturday’s Miami meetings will host Russian President Vladimir Putin’s adviser Kirill Dmitriev alongside Witkoff, Jared Kushner, and potentially Secretary Rubio. Their agenda centers on reviewing the latest iteration of a U.S.-proposed resolution to the Russia-Ukraine conflict. This proposal has undergone multiple revisions amid President Trump’s fluctuating stance between supporting Ukraine and advocating for territorial concessions to Russia—a position firmly rejected by Kyiv.

Regarding Venezuela, Secretary Rubio has championed intensified military operations against suspected drug-trafficking vessels in Caribbean and eastern Pacific waters. These operations, initiated in early September, represent the administration’s strategy to pressure leftist President Nicolás Maduro, who faces U.S. narcoterrorism charges. While President Trump declined to preclude military confrontation with Venezuela in recent interviews, Rubio and Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth maintain that current operations exclusively target narcoterrorists threatening U.S. security.

Additional agenda items include the recent $11 billion arms sales package to Taiwan, which has provoked strong condemnation from Beijing, and the administration’s substantial restructuring of diplomatic operations. Secretary Rubio has implemented sweeping changes including the dissolution of the U.S. Agency for International Development and reduction of diplomatic corps size—actions critics argue have adversely affected global humanitarian efforts, though the administration cites ongoing disaster relief and new global health agreements as counterevidence.

The Trump administration’s naval interdiction campaign targeting sanctioned oil tankers near Venezuela is generating intense debate over its legal foundations and potential to escalate into armed conflict. While officially characterized as a narrowly tailored operation against vessels violating U.S. sanctions, legal experts and congressional Democrats express alarm that these maritime operations may violate international law and deliberately provoke Venezuelan forces.

University of Pennsylvania national security law professor Claire Finkelstein warns the administration appears to be “bootstrapping our way into armed conflict” by implementing aggressive tactics without congressional authorization. This perspective finds support among military veterans in Congress, including Representative Jason Crow (D-CO), who fears the situation could spiral into unintended warfare due to insufficient consultation with legislative bodies.

Republican leadership maintains support for the operations, comparing the Venezuelan oil interdiction to previous actions against Iranian tankers. Representative Michael McCaul (R-TX) asserts that targeting sanction-evading vessels represents legitimate enforcement action rather than acts of war.

The semantic distinction between “blockade” and “quarantine” has emerged as a crucial legal differentiation. Pentagon officials prefer the latter term, which under international law constitutes a selective security measure rather than an act of war requiring formal declaration. This terminology echoes historical precedents, most notably President Kennedy’s “quarantine” during the Cuban Missile Crisis.

Venezuela’s response has emphasized the economic threat posed by these operations, given the country’s dependence on oil revenues despite possessing the world’s largest proven reserves. Nicolás Maduro Guerra, the president’s son and a legislator, acknowledged the serious challenge presented by U.S. military pressure while affirming Venezuela’s commitment to peaceful resolution.

Legal scholars remain divided on the operation’s legitimacy. Emory University’s Mark Nevitt questions the legal foundation, describing the policy as “a junior varsity blockade” that improperly applies wartime tools without formal conflict declaration. Conversely, Texas Tech’s Geoffrey Corn suggests the operations may represent intensified pressure tactics rather than deliberate provocation toward open warfare.

The ongoing maritime campaign continues without congressional war authorization, despite Democratic efforts to require legislative approval for further military escalation in the region.

BRASILIA — Brazilian President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva declared on Thursday his firm intention to veto legislative measures that would substantially diminish the 27-year prison sentence of his predecessor, Jair Bolsonaro. The former leader remains incarcerated since November following convictions related to attempted coup activities against Brazil’s democratic institutions.

The controversial legislation, which cleared both the Chamber of Deputies and Senate this week, proposes significant modifications to Brazil’s penal system. It would accelerate the transition of convicted individuals from stringent to more lenient prison regimes and provide sentence reductions of up to two-thirds for crimes committed within crowd contexts—provisions that would directly benefit participants in the January 8, 2023, insurrection in Brasília.

President Lula emphasized to journalists that those who committed crimes against Brazilian democracy must face appropriate consequences for their actions. His administration maintains that the proposed law undermines judicial accountability for acts threatening constitutional order.

The legislative proposal faces additional challenges beyond presidential veto. Brazil’s Supreme Court is expected to review the bill’s constitutionality, particularly regarding provisions that would prevent cumulative sentencing for related offenses such as abolishing democratic rule and attempting a coup d’état—a central argument in Bolsonaro’s legal appeal.

Political tensions surrounding the legislation have ignited nationwide demonstrations. Tens of thousands of Brazilians protested in major cities including São Paulo, Salvador, and the capital Brasília over the weekend, expressing opposition to what many perceive as special treatment for political figures convicted of anti-democratic actions.

The developments occur against the backdrop of emerging electoral dynamics. Senator Flávio Bolsonaro, the former president’s eldest son and potential presidential candidate, has endorsed the legislation while criticizing the legitimacy of the judicial process against his father. Political analysts anticipate he may challenge President Lula in the 2026 elections, representing the Bolsonaro-aligned Liberal Party.