标签： South America

In a strategic move that underscores escalating tensions in the Caribbean, the USS Gravely, a guided missile destroyer, arrived in Port-of-Spain, Trinidad and Tobago, on Sunday. This deployment aligns with the Trump administration’s intensified military pressure on Venezuela and its President, Nicolás Maduro. The USS Gravely’s presence complements the USS Gerald R. Ford aircraft carrier, which is also positioning closer to Venezuelan waters. Maduro has condemned these maneuvers, accusing the U.S. of orchestrating a ‘new eternal war’ against his nation. U.S. President Donald Trump has further heightened tensions by alleging, without evidence, that Maduro leads the organized crime group Tren de Aragua. The warship will remain in Trinidad until Thursday, facilitating joint training exercises between the U.S. and Trinidad and Tobago. These exercises aim to address shared threats such as transnational crime and enhance regional security. However, the deployment has sparked controversy locally. David Abdulah, leader of the Movement for Social Justice, criticized the decision, labeling the warship’s presence an ‘abomination’ given the proximity to Venezuela and the looming threat of conflict. Meanwhile, Trinidad and Tobago’s Prime Minister, Kamla Persad-Bissessar, has voiced support for the U.S. military presence, citing regional security concerns. The visit follows a recent U.S. Embassy warning to Americans in Trinidad and Tobago to avoid government facilities due to reported threats. Despite calls for dialogue from regional trade bloc Caricom, Persad-Bissessar has emphasized that the Caribbean is not a ‘zone of peace,’ pointing to high rates of violent crime.

In the upscale Puerto Madero district of Buenos Aires, luxury car dealerships are thriving, and bankers are optimistic. This surge in economic activity follows President Javier Milei’s decision to lift import restrictions and end the ban on online dollar sales. Meanwhile, across the polluted Riachuelo River in Isla Maciel, Veronica Leguizamon struggles to feed her four daughters, relying on a local soup kitchen after Milei’s cuts to public subsidies and price controls on essential goods. ‘Before, we could choose what to cook,’ she lamented. ‘Now we depend on others to know if we’ll eat or not.’ This stark contrast highlights the deepening divide in Argentina as voters prepare for Sunday’s nationwide congressional midterms, a pivotal test for Milei’s libertarian government. While some praise his efforts to attract foreign investment and stabilize the economy, others suffer from the harsh realities of austerity. The election outcome could determine the future of Milei’s economic reforms and the Trump administration’s $40 billion financial rescue plan for Argentina. As the nation stands at a crossroads, the question remains: will Milei’s policies unite or further fracture a deeply polarized electorate?

In a significant diplomatic escalation, the United States has imposed sanctions on Colombia’s left-wing President Gustavo Petro, accusing him of failing to combat drug trafficking effectively. US Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent stated that Petro has allowed drug cartels to thrive, leading to a surge in cocaine production that has ‘flooded the United States and poisoned Americans.’ Sanctions have also been levied against Colombia’s Interior Minister Armando Benedetti, Petro’s wife, and eldest son, freezing their US-based assets and properties. This move marks a sharp deterioration in relations between the two nations, which were once close allies in the war on drugs. Colombia previously received substantial military aid from the US, but tensions have escalated since former President Donald Trump returned to power. Petro, a former guerrilla leader, has vehemently denied the allegations, asserting on social media platform X that he has fought drug trafficking ‘for decades’ and aided the US in reducing cocaine consumption. He condemned the sanctions as a ‘complete paradox’ and vowed to stand firm. The US has also intensified military operations in the southern Caribbean, targeting vessels allegedly involved in drug trafficking, though evidence remains unsubstantiated. Trump recently suspended payments and subsidies to Colombia, further straining ties. Petro has criticized US airstrikes in the Caribbean as ‘acts of tyranny,’ accusing Washington of violating Colombian sovereignty. While sanctioning a head of state is rare, it is not unprecedented, with leaders from Russia, North Korea, and Venezuela previously facing similar measures.

The Trump administration has imposed sanctions on Colombian President Gustavo Petro, his family, and a senior government official, accusing them of involvement in the global drug trade. This move marks a significant escalation in tensions between the U.S. and one of its closest allies in South America. The sanctions, announced by the Treasury Department, target Petro, his wife Veronica del Socorro Alcocer Garcia, his son Nicolas Fernando Petro Burgos, and Colombian Interior Minister Armando Alberto Benedetti. Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent stated that Petro has allowed drug cartels to thrive and failed to curb their activities, prompting President Trump to take decisive action to protect the U.S. from drug trafficking. The sanctions follow a series of clashes between the U.S. and Colombia, particularly over American military strikes on alleged drug-carrying vessels off South America. This week, the U.S. expanded its anti-drug operations to the eastern Pacific Ocean, a major cocaine smuggling route, and deployed an aircraft carrier to the region. Petro has vehemently denied the accusations, vowing to defend himself in U.S. courts and emphasizing his commitment to combating drug trafficking through alternative policies, such as agreements with coca growers to transition to legal crops. The U.S. has also slashed aid to Colombia, with expected cuts of at least 20%, or $18 million, and threatened tariffs on Colombian exports. Petro’s approach to drug policy, which focuses on addressing the root causes of drug production rather than repression, has drawn criticism from the Trump administration, which has intensified military operations in Latin America to target traffickers. The sanctions and aid cuts underscore the deepening rift between the two nations, with Petro accusing the U.S. of hypocrisy and vowing to resist pressure.

US Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth revealed on Friday that the United States has executed another targeted strike against a vessel allegedly linked to drug traffickers. The operation, conducted in the Caribbean Sea, targeted the Tren de Aragua criminal organization, resulting in the deaths of six individuals described as ‘narco-terrorists.’ This marks the tenth such strike since early September, as part of President Donald Trump’s broader campaign to combat drug trafficking. Hegseth shared a video on X, showcasing the operation, which depicts a boat being destroyed in a fiery explosion. While the Trump administration asserts its legal authority to conduct these strikes, concerns have been raised by members of Congress, including 25 Democratic senators who questioned the evidence justifying the attacks. Senator Rand Paul, a Republican, has argued that congressional approval is necessary for such actions. Trump, however, maintains that he has the authority to designate Tren de Aragua as a terrorist organization and order these strikes. The administration’s actions have also been interpreted as a strategic move to exert military pressure on Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro, a long-time adversary of Trump. The latest strike brings the total death toll from these operations to at least 43.