标签： South America

WASHINGTON — Secretary of State Marco Rubio is poised to deliver a stark warning to Venezuela’s interim leadership during Wednesday’s Senate Foreign Relations Committee hearing: continued U.S. military intervention remains on the table if cooperation wavers. While emphasizing that America is “not at war with Venezuela,” Rubio’s prepared testimony clarifies that the Trump administration would not hesitate to deploy additional force should diplomatic efforts fail, following the recent raid that captured former President Nicolás Maduro.

According to advance remarks released by the State Department, Rubio will state: “We are prepared to use force to ensure maximum cooperation if other methods fail. It is our hope that this will not prove necessary, but we will never shy away from our duty to the American people and our mission in this hemisphere.”

The hearing occurs amid growing congressional tension over executive authority, with Democrats condemning Trump’s Venezuela actions as constitutional overreach while most Republicans defend them as legitimate presidential power. Although the House recently defeated a war powers resolution seeking to withdraw U.S. forces, the administration maintains no troops are stationed in Venezuela despite significant regional military buildup.

Simultaneously, the administration is pursuing normalized relations with Acting President Delcy Rodríguez, though Rubio’s testimony makes clear her compliance with U.S. demands is expected. These demands include opening Venezuela’s energy sector to U.S. companies, redirecting oil revenue toward American goods, and ending subsidized oil exports to Cuba.

Rodríguez acknowledged “respectful and courteous channels of communication” with the Trump administration and reported collaboration on a “working agenda.” Her government has already released 266 political prisoners—a move Trump praised as a “powerful humanitarian gesture.”

In a significant diplomatic step, the State Department notified Congress of plans to deploy additional personnel to Caracas, preparing for potential embassy reopening. Full normalization, however, would require rescinding U.S. recognition of Venezuela’s 2015 parliament as the legitimate government.

Rubio’s appearance also serves to address broader foreign policy concerns within his party, including Trump’s controversial Greenland annexation proposal, as the administration’s attention shifts between hemispheric, European, and Middle Eastern priorities.

BOGOTA, Colombia — Diplomatic relations between Colombia and Ecuador have reached a critical juncture as a rapidly escalating trade war intensifies. The latest development occurred Tuesday when Colombia vehemently condemned Ecuador’s decision to implement a dramatic tenfold increase in transportation fees for Colombian oil traversing its pipeline infrastructure.

Ecuador’s Ministry of Energy announced Monday that pipeline transit fees would skyrocket from $3 to $30 per barrel, effectively creating significant economic barriers for Colombian energy companies utilizing the Trans-Ecuadorian pipeline system. This critical infrastructure transports crude from production sites in southwestern Colombia and western Ecuador to Pacific export terminals.

The punitive measure directly impacts Colombia’s state-owned energy giant Ecopetrol, which currently moves over 12,000 barrels daily through the affected pipeline network. Colombian Energy Minister Edwin Palma characterized the fee hike as “a new aggression against the people,” signaling deteriorating bilateral relations.

This energy infrastructure confrontation follows Colombia’s recent suspension of electricity exports to its neighbor, a move that created severe power reliability issues for Ecuador. The electricity-dependent nation has struggled with grid stability throughout 2024 due to drought conditions affecting hydroelectric generation.

The current trade dispute originated last Thursday when Ecuadorian President Daniel Noboa imposed sweeping 30% tariffs on all Colombian imports. Noboa, a conservative leader seeking strengthened ties with the Trump administration, defended the tariffs as a necessary “security tax” until Colombia demonstrates “true commitment” to combating cross-border drug trafficking and illegal mining operations.

Colombian officials have rejected these allegations, highlighting record cocaine interdiction rates under President Gustavo Petro’s administration. Despite enforcement successes, coca cultivation and production metrics continue reaching unprecedented levels due to enhanced processing efficiency and expanded planting.

In retaliatory measures, Colombia implemented mirroring 30% tariffs on Ecuadorian goods. The economic confrontation threatens a bilateral trade relationship valued at $2.3 billion annually, with Colombia exporting approximately $1.7 billion in goods to its smaller neighbor.

Political analysts suggest President Noboa may be using the trade conflict to divert attention from Ecuador’s domestic security crisis. Recently published crime statistics reveal the nation’s homicide rate has reached 50 per 100,000 residents in 2025—the highest in its modern history and a fivefold increase since 2020. The violence stems from international drug cartels battling for control of Ecuador’s strategic ports, transforming the once-tranquil nation into a major cocaine transit hub.

The United States government has formally commenced preliminary actions that could lead to the reopening of its diplomatic mission in Venezuela, marking a significant shift in bilateral relations. In official correspondence dispatched to congressional committees on Monday, the State Department outlined its strategy to deploy a contingent of temporary diplomatic personnel to Caracas. These officials will operate from an interim facility while assessments and necessary upgrades are conducted on the main embassy compound, which was closed in March 2019 amid escalating political tensions. The department characterized this move as a carefully calibrated, phased approach to potentially restoring full embassy operations. This development follows recent U.S. military actions that resulted in the ouster of former President Nicolás Maduro, creating new geopolitical dynamics in South America. The notification to lawmakers underscores the administration’s commitment to congressional oversight while exploring diplomatic re-engagement with the strategically important nation.

CARACAS, Venezuela — In a significant development for human rights in Venezuela, the nation’s leading prisoner advocacy organization confirmed the release of dozens of detainees over the weekend. This action comes amid sustained international pressure and follows the recent political upheaval that saw the ouster of former leader Nicolás Maduro.

Foro Penal, Venezuela’s prominent rights monitoring group, reported through its president Alfredo Romero that 266 individuals classified as political prisoners have gained freedom since January 8. This date marks when Venezuela’s interim government committed to liberating a substantial number of detainees as part of a national reconciliation initiative.

The prisoner releases occur during a period of dramatic political transition. Maduro was apprehended by United States authorities in a January 3 operation, leading to Vice President Delcy Rodríguez assuming the role of acting president. Rodríguez, a seasoned insider within the ruling party apparatus, now leads the nation through this transitional phase.

Among those recently released are prominent cases including an opposition activist, a human rights attorney, and a journalism student imprisoned since March. The student’s detention followed his publication of complaints regarding his hometown’s sewage infrastructure, for which he faced charges of “inciting hatred.

Despite these releases, Foro Penal estimates that at least 600 dissidents remain incarcerated in Venezuelan detention facilities. This number includes several members of the Vente Venezuela party, which operates under the leadership of opposition figure and Nobel Peace Prize laureate María Corina Machado.

Acting President Rodríguez stated on Friday that her administration has secured the freedom of more than 620 prisoners total. She further announced intentions to request verification of these release figures from the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights.

However, domestic human rights organizations have raised concerns about potential inflation of the government’s release statistics. Outside Venezuelan prisons, family members of those still detained continue to organize regular vigils, maintaining public pressure for the liberation of all remaining political prisoners.

GEORGETOWN, Guyana — In a remarkable political development, Azruddin Mohamed, a 38-year-old Guyanese businessman confronting serious U.S. criminal charges, has been formally elected as the nation’s official opposition leader. This unprecedented political ascension occurred Monday through a parliamentary vote held six months after Mohamed established his We Invest in Nationhood Party (WIN), which has rapidly emerged as Guyana’s second-largest political force.

The parliamentary confirmation proceeded with 17 lawmakers—16 from WIN and one from a single-seat party—voting in Mohamed’s favor. This political milestone unfolds simultaneously as a magistrate’s court deliberates on state arguments for his extradition to the United States, where he and his father face federal indictments for gold smuggling and money laundering.

Last year, Florida prosecutors unsealed indictments against the Mohamed family, alleging their involvement in smuggling over 10,000 kilograms of gold from Guyana to the United States while evading more than $50 million in taxes. These charges followed earlier sanctions imposed by the U.S. Treasury Department, which identified the Mohameds as significant players in Guyana’s gold industry through their extensive business operations, including foreign exchange outlets and substantial real estate holdings.

The case has highlighted persistent governance challenges in the oil-rich South American nation, with authorities having shuttered all Mohamed family businesses and commercial bank accounts following the sanctions announcement.

Monday’s parliamentary session, attended exclusively by opposition lawmakers, occurred amid mounting international pressure. Western nations and civil society groups had accused Guyanese authorities of deliberately delaying parliamentary proceedings to obstruct Mohamed’s election. Parliament had convened only once since its dissolution in July preceding September’s general elections.

Addressing concerns about potential extradition, Mohamed asserted the fundamental legal principle that “a person is innocent until proven guilty.” He suggested political motivations behind the legal actions, contending that his prosecution relates directly to WIN’s successful opposition to the ruling People’s Progressive Party (PPP).

“I announced my candidacy because of the people of this country,” Mohamed told reporters outside parliament. “The people asked me. I would not have had any court issues if I did not contest this election. I am ready to serve the people of this country.”

House Speaker Manzoor Nadir acknowledged the unusual circumstances, describing himself as being in a “difficult position” for overseeing the appointment of an indicted individual as opposition leader. Despite these reservations, Nadir presided over the proceedings and formally congratulated Mohamed on his electoral victory.