标签： South America

Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro has expressed willingness to engage in direct talks with the Trump administration as US pressure intensifies. This comes in response to US President Donald Trump’s refusal to rule out deploying ground forces to Venezuela. The Trump administration has accused Maduro, whose 2024 re-election was widely criticized as fraudulent, of leading a drug cartel. Maduro denies these allegations, countering that the US aims to provoke a war to seize Venezuela’s oil reserves. Since Trump’s second inauguration in January, the US has ramped up its efforts against Maduro, doubling the reward for his capture to $50 million and launching ‘Operation Southern Spear,’ a counternarcotics mission targeting suspected drug-trafficking vessels. Over 80 people have died in US strikes on these vessels, primarily in the Caribbean. US Secretary of War Pete Hegseth claims the operation aims to eliminate ‘narcoterrorists’ from the Western Hemisphere, though legal experts question its legality due to a lack of evidence. The deployment of the USS Gerald Ford, the US Navy’s largest aircraft carrier, has fueled speculation that the US seeks to oust Maduro. Trump’s ambiguous statements have added to the uncertainty. While he initially downplayed the possibility of war, he later refused to rule out ground troops in Venezuela. The US State Department has also announced plans to designate the alleged Maduro-led Cartel de los Soles as a Foreign Terrorist Organization (FTO), effective November 24. Analysts interpret this delay, coupled with Trump’s openness to talks, as an ultimatum for Maduro to negotiate or face harsher measures. Meanwhile, Venezuelan opposition leader María Corina Machado has called for the military to defect, labeling Maduro’s government as a ‘criminal structure’ and advocating for accountability for human rights abuses. Maduro, addressing the US public directly in English, has reiterated his commitment to dialogue and peace.

Chileans are poised to make a pivotal decision in their nation’s democratic history as they prepare to vote in a presidential runoff next month. The election pits hard-right candidate José Antonio Kast against communist Jeannette Jara, presenting a stark ideological divide. Neither candidate secured the required 50% in the initial vote, but Kast enters the second round with momentum after right-wing parties garnered an unprecedented 70% of the vote. Kast, an ultraconservative lawyer, has campaigned on promises to deport undocumented immigrants and restore order, while Jara represents a leftist vision focused on social welfare and progressive policies. The election has particularly high stakes for Chile’s 1.5 million immigrants, including hundreds of thousands of Venezuelans who fled their homeland’s socialist regime. Many immigrants, ineligible to vote, face the prospect of deportation under Kast’s proposed policies. The runoff also reflects broader regional trends, as Latin America shifts toward right-wing leadership amid rising concerns over crime and economic instability. Kast’s admiration for authoritarian figures like Donald Trump and Nayib Bukele has drawn both support and criticism, while Jara’s communist ties evoke fears of Chile’s autocratic past. The outcome of this election will shape Chile’s future, determining whether it leans toward conservative law-and-order policies or progressive social reforms.

In a press briefing on Monday, President Donald Trump maintained ambiguity regarding potential military intervention in Venezuela, even as he hinted at the possibility of diplomatic engagement with Venezuelan leader Nicolás Maduro. Maduro has accused the U.S. of orchestrating a military buildup and targeting alleged drug-trafficking vessels near Venezuela as part of a broader strategy to oust him from power. Trump, while expressing openness to dialogue, emphasized that military action remains a viable option. ‘I don’t rule out that. I don’t rule out anything,’ he stated, sidestepping questions about whether Maduro could influence the U.S. to de-escalate its military posture. Trump further criticized Maduro, alleging that he has caused significant harm to the U.S. through drug trafficking and migration. ‘He’s done tremendous damage to our country,’ Trump remarked. ‘He has not been good to the United States, so we’ll see what happens.’ The Trump administration has intensified pressure on Maduro’s government in recent days, with plans to designate a cartel allegedly led by Maduro and other Venezuelan officials as a terrorist organization. The arrival of the USS Gerald R. Ford and accompanying warships in the Caribbean coincided with U.S. military strikes on suspected drug-trafficking vessels. While the administration frames these actions as counterdrug operations, analysts and Venezuelan opposition figures view them as escalating pressure tactics. Geoff Ramsey, a Venezuela policy expert at the Atlantic Council, noted that the Trump administration’s approach reflects a desire to negotiate from a position of strength. ‘They really want to negotiate from a place of strength,’ Ramsey said. ‘Either [Maduro] engages in credible talks about a transition, or the U.S. will have no choice but to escalate.’ Maduro has previously engaged in negotiations with the U.S. and Venezuelan opposition, resulting in agreements aimed at ensuring free and fair elections. However, Maduro’s alleged manipulation of these agreements has fueled skepticism. In Caracas, reactions to the prospect of renewed dialogue were mixed, with some expressing hope for a peaceful resolution and others questioning the government’s commitment to honoring agreements. ‘If [the dialogue] actually happens, I hope the government will actually follow through this time,’ said shopkeeper Gustavo García. Stay-at-home mother Mery Martínez added, ‘Talking is always better. Anything that helps prevent a tragedy is good.’

Chile is set for a highly contentious presidential runoff on December 14, pitting José Antonio Kast, a hard-right former lawmaker and admirer of Donald Trump, against Jeannette Jara, a member of the Communist Party representing the incumbent left-wing government. Kast, an ultraconservative lawyer opposed to abortion and same-sex marriage, emerged as a surprise front-runner after securing nearly 24% of the vote in the first round. His campaign, focused on cracking down on crime, building a border wall, and deporting undocumented migrants, resonated with voters concerned about organized crime, illegal immigration, and unemployment. Jara, a former labor minister, narrowly led with 27% of the vote, campaigning on expanding Chile’s social safety net and tackling money laundering and drug trafficking. The runoff reflects a broader regional shift in Latin America, where economic discontent and anti-incumbent sentiment have fueled the rise of right-wing leaders. Kast’s potential victory could reshape Chile’s political landscape, with right-wing parties poised to dominate Congress, marking a significant departure from the left-leaning policies of recent years.

In a decisive referendum, Ecuadorian voters have rejected the proposal to allow foreign military bases on their soil, thwarting both President Daniel Noboa’s agenda and US ambitions to expand its military presence in the Eastern Pacific. The vote, held on Sunday, marks a significant setback for Noboa, who had championed constitutional changes to overturn a 2008 legislative ban on foreign military installations. He argued that such bases would bolster efforts to combat organized crime and curb the nation’s escalating violence, which has transformed Ecuador into a global hub for drug trafficking. Despite his efforts, the electorate delivered a resounding ‘no,’ reflecting widespread skepticism about foreign military involvement. The referendum also saw voters reject other proposals, including ending public funding for political parties, reducing the size of Congress, and establishing a constitutional assembly to rewrite the nation’s charter. Noboa, who has pursued a hardline military approach to crime, including deploying armed soldiers on the streets, expressed respect for the outcome but faces mounting criticism over his authoritarian tactics. The US, which had hoped to reestablish a military base in Ecuador after being forced to close its previous site in 2009, now finds its regional strategy in question. The referendum coincides with a significant US military deployment to the Caribbean, including the world’s largest warship and bomber planes, raising speculation about potential strikes on land targets in Venezuela. Critics argue that the US’s actions in the region, including recent strikes on alleged drug-trafficking vessels, may violate international law. Meanwhile, Ecuador’s struggle against powerful drug cartels continues, as evidenced by the recent capture of Wilmer ‘Pipo’ Chavarria, a leader of the notorious Los Lobos gang, in a joint operation with Spanish police. The referendum outcome underscores the complexities of balancing security, sovereignty, and international relations in a region grappling with violence and geopolitical tensions.

The United States has announced its intention to designate Cartel de los Soles, a group allegedly led by Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro, as a Foreign Terrorist Organization (FTO). The decision, revealed by US Secretary of State Marco Rubio on Sunday, will take effect from November 24. This designation effectively labels Maduro as a terrorist, a claim he vehemently denies. The move is part of the Trump administration’s broader strategy to combat drug trafficking and exert pressure on Maduro, amid ongoing speculation about potential US military intervention in Venezuela. The FTO designation empowers the US government to aggressively target the group and its associates, making it illegal to provide them with support. While the US Treasury Department has previously imposed sanctions on Cartel de los Soles, the new classification escalates the response, unlocking more robust enforcement mechanisms. The US alleges that the group, which includes members of Maduro’s inner circle and the military, is involved in drug trafficking and illegal mining. However, no public evidence has been presented to substantiate Maduro’s direct involvement in these activities. The Trump administration’s characterization of Maduro as a drug trafficker is widely viewed as a potential justification for targeting him or his associates in a military campaign. Tensions have escalated since October, when Maduro accused the US of ‘fabricating a new war’ following the deployment of the USS Gerald Ford to the Caribbean. President Trump has hinted at potential discussions with Maduro but has yet to provide details. The US has also criticized Venezuela for its alleged failure to address cartel activity, which Trump claims contributes to the fentanyl crisis in the US, despite evidence pointing to Mexico and Asia as primary sources. Since September, the US has conducted airstrikes on suspected drug-trafficking vessels off the coasts of Venezuela and Colombia, resulting in at least 83 deaths. This marks the largest US military deployment to the Caribbean in decades.