标签： South America

In the tranquil village of Icacos, Trinidad, Kenrick Modie, a local fisherman, recently expressed his fears about the escalating geopolitical tensions between the United States and Venezuela. Living just 11 miles from Venezuela, Modie and his community are increasingly anxious about the potential fallout from U.S. military strikes targeting suspected drug vessels in the Caribbean. U.S. President Donald Trump has declared an ‘armed conflict’ with drug cartels, alleging they are attempting to bring ‘deadly poison’ to U.S. shores. This has led to heightened military activity in the region, with Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth ordering multiple strikes on small boats accused of carrying drugs off Venezuela’s coast.

Venezuela, in response, has accused the U.S. of military aggression, prompting President Nicolás Maduro to place the country’s military and civilians on high alert. Caught in the middle is Trinidad and Tobago, a nation heavily reliant on its multimillion-dollar fishing industry, which employs thousands of fishermen. Prime Minister Kamla Persad-Bissessar has voiced support for U.S. actions against drug cartels, even offering access to Trinidad and Tobago for U.S. forces to defend Guyana from Venezuelan territorial claims. However, Maduro views this as a declaration of war, further straining relations.

For fishermen like Modie, the stakes are personal. They fear being mistaken for drug smugglers and killed in U.S. strikes, with no way to prove their innocence. The tension has already forced fishermen to stay in shallower waters, reducing their catch and threatening their livelihoods. The situation has drawn international concern, with Caribbean leaders at the United Nations General Assembly calling for dialogue to avoid war and describing the militarization of the region as ‘exceedingly troubling.’

As the U.S. and Venezuela continue their standoff, the fishermen of Trinidad and Tobago are left to navigate a precarious existence, praying for peace while grappling with the harsh realities of their new, fear-filled fishing routines.

In a significant international operation, the alleged leader of the armed wing of the Venezuelan criminal gang Tren de Aragua has been apprehended. The arrest of José Antonio Márquez Morales, also known as Caracas, was announced by Colombia’s National Police. The operation, which involved collaboration between Colombia, the United States, and the United Kingdom, took place in the city of Valledupar. Morales is accused of playing a pivotal role in managing the logistics and finances for the gang, which is involved in extortion, drug trafficking, and smuggling. Tren de Aragua has been designated as a terrorist organization by former US President Donald Trump, who also deported over 250 alleged members of the gang to a prison in El Salvador. Carlos Fernando Triana Beltrán, Director of Colombia’s National Police, revealed that Morales was the subject of an Interpol Red Notice, a global alert requesting law enforcement agencies to detain an individual pending extradition. The arrest comes amid escalating tensions between the US and Venezuela, particularly concerning the Trump administration’s anti-drug-trafficking initiatives in Latin America. The US has recently deployed warships to the Caribbean and conducted bombings of vessels allegedly transporting drugs from Venezuela to the US. The Trump administration has accused Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro of colluding with drug cartels and has offered a $50 million reward for information leading to his capture. Maduro has vehemently denied these allegations and has defended his government’s efforts to combat drug trafficking.

For many residents of Barbuda, the scars of Hurricane Irma’s devastation in September 2017 remain fresh. Eight years later, thunderstorms still evoke harrowing memories of the night when the Category 5 storm obliterated homes and livelihoods. While the emotional toll persists, the financial burden of recovery has become increasingly insurmountable, as home insurance premiums across the Caribbean have surged by up to 40% in the past two years. Experts attribute this spike to a combination of escalating cyclone risks and the region’s small population, which limits the profitability of insurance policies. Dwight Benjamin, a Barbudan whose home survived Irma, has fortified his property with a concrete-roofed extension to serve as a shelter. Yet, like many in the region, he has never purchased insurance, citing its prohibitive cost and a belief in the resilience of his self-built home. Across the Caribbean, the majority of homes remain uninsured, with only 20% coverage in Jamaica and 50% in Barbados. The region’s vulnerability extends beyond hurricanes to earthquakes and volcanic activity, further complicating the insurance landscape. Peter Levy, CEO of Jamaican insurance firm BCIC, describes the Caribbean as a ‘unique market’ where natural disaster risks perpetually drive high premiums. For instance, Antiguan insurer Anjo charges between 1.3% and 1.7% of a home’s value, compared to less than 0.2% in the UK. As the Atlantic hurricane season peaks, residents like Mohammid Walbrook, who lost his home to Irma, brace for the psychological and physical toll of potential storms. International aid, such as the $25 million provided by the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) in 2017, has been crucial in rebuilding efforts. The UNDP’s cash-for-work program not only restored over 800 buildings but also provided employment to hundreds of suddenly jobless residents. Training in resilient construction techniques has further equipped locals to withstand future disasters. Regional initiatives like the Caribbean Catastrophe Risk Insurance Facility, which disbursed a record $85 million after Hurricane Beryl, offer some relief. However, for deeply indebted nations like Antigua and Barbuda, preparedness remains a year-round challenge. Sherrod James, director of the country’s disaster services, emphasizes proactive measures, from shelter assessments to flood mitigation. Despite the ongoing risks, the resilience of Caribbean communities endures, as they navigate the dual challenges of climate change and economic constraints.

The United Nations Security Council has greenlit a significant expansion of international security forces in Haiti to address the escalating gang violence that has ravaged the Caribbean nation. The newly established ‘Gang Suppression Force’ (GSF) will comprise up to 5,550 police and military personnel, equipped with the authority to detain suspected gang members. This move aims to bolster the Kenyan-led Multinational Security Support mission (MSS), which, despite its initial mandate for 2,500 members, has struggled with insufficient numbers and resources since its deployment in 2023. The MSS has been largely ineffective in curbing the violence, which claimed over 5,500 lives in 2024 alone. Armed gangs now control approximately 85% of Haiti’s capital, Port-au-Prince, exacerbating the country’s ongoing economic and political crises following the assassination of its president in 2021. The UN Security Council adopted a US-proposed resolution on Tuesday to establish the GSF, which will collaborate with Haitian authorities to enhance security and facilitate humanitarian access. The current MSS force, numbering fewer than 1,000 officers, has been overwhelmed by the well-armed gangs. US Ambassador to the UN Mike Waltz emphasized that the expanded mission, five times the size of its predecessor, is crucial to restoring stability. The resolution also includes the creation of a UN support office in Haiti to provide logistical and operational assistance. Haiti’s UN representative, Ericq Pierre, hailed the decision as a pivotal moment in the nation’s struggle against one of its most severe challenges. The GSF’s deployment timeline and contributing countries remain unclear, but the move comes as nearly 1.3 million Haitians have been internally displaced due to rampant violence. Gangs continue to expand their territories, committing human rights violations such as child exploitation, murder, and trafficking.