Executive Briefing Assistant

Search Results: 1. U.S. strikes Venezuela and captures Maduro; Trump says ... URL: https://www.cbsnews.com/live-updates/venezuela-us-military-strikes-maduro-trump/ Date: 2026-01-04 Snippet: ## What to know about the U.S. military attack on Venezuela - Former Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro and his wife were captured and brought to the U.S. They will appear in federal court at noon on Monday, according to a spokesperson for the U.S. District Court in the Southern District of New York. - President Trump said in a Saturday press conference that the U.S. would "run" Venezuela temporarily during the transition, and "get the oil flowing." He said Sunday the U.S. was "in charge" of Venezuela.... - Secretary of State Marco Rubio signaled on Sunday the U.S. doesn't plan to directly govern Venezuela, but will continue to enforce an "oil quarantine" as part of a plan to influence policy. - Maduro and his wife landed in New York on Saturday hours after being captured during a U.S. military operation in Caracas. They are being held at the Metropolitan Detention Center in Brooklyn and will face federal charges related to drug trafficking and working with gangs designated as terrorist organizations, which Maduro denies.... ## Trump says he hasn't spoken with Delcy Rodriguez, but that she's cooperating with U.S. Speaking with reporters aboard Air Force One on Sunday night, President Trump said he has not spoken directly with Venezuela's acting leader, Vice President Delcy Rodriguez, but she was cooperating with the U.S. Mr. Trump insisted the U.S. is "in charge" of Venezuela following the capture of President Nicolás Maduro, and said the U.S. had been prepared for further military action in Venezuela but it hadn't been needed so far, adding that could change "if they don't behave."... The president said he's spoken with several U.S. oil companies about commitments to rebuilding Venezuela's infrastructure, saying they "wanna go in so bad." Mr. Trump also alluded to possible action against Colombian President Gustavo Petro, saying Colombia is "very sick too, run by a very sick man." Mr. Trump said he felt Petro is "not going to be doing it for very long," and when asked if he would carry out a military operation there as well, the president responded, "Sounds good to me."... McMaster also said the action both increases pressure on the regime and is "mainly focused on drying up their cash flow." "That's what you see in the interdiction of the oil tankers and the destruction of the boats, cutting off his access to the narcotics funds," he said. Noting the differences between Venezuela and past U.S. military involvement in toppling the regimes in Iraq and Afghanistan, McMaster said, "Venezuelans ultimately have to do this themselves, but of course, what Maduro's been very good at is crushing any opposition."... ## Congress to be briefed Monday on Venezuela Trump administration officials will give some members of Congress a classified briefing on Venezuela at 5:30 p.m. Monday, according to multiple sources. Those invited include chairs and ranking members from the Senate Foreign Relations, Senate Armed Services, House Foreign Affairs and House Armed Services committees, as well as the so-called Gang of Eight — the chair and ranking member of the House and Senate intelligence committees and the four leaders of the House and Senate.... ## At least 4 Americans still detained in Venezuela There are at least four detained Americans being held in Venezuela, according to a hostage advocate familiar with the situation. The U.S. government is aware that some Americans who had been detained in Venezuela prior to the holidays remain in custody there. Asked by "Face the Nation" moderator Margaret Brennan about reports of previously detained Americans still being held in Venezuela, Sen. Chris Van Hollen said, "I've not gotten an update from the administration on those detained Americans. But certainly, my view is we should work to bring back every American who is wrongfully detained overseas."... The New York Democrat said the administration doesn't have the authority for the operation, saying "they did not just do ships off the water, they went inside Venezuela, bombed civilian as well as military places, and it's a violation of the law to do what they did without getting the authorization of Congress." Schumer said Senate Democrats will force a vote on a war powers resolution this week, saying "if it is voted positively in both houses, then the president can't do another thing in Venezuela without the OK of Congress." Previous efforts to limit the president's authority to strike Venezuela have fallen short in recent months.... ## Sen. Tom Cotton says new Venezuelan government cannot "continue Nicolás Maduro's ways" Sen. Tom Cotton, the chair of the Senate Intelligence Committee, told "Face the Nation with Margaret Brennan" on Sunday that the U.S. has to "make sure the people that are in charge of the apparatus of the Venezuelan government are not going to continue Nicolás Maduro's ways."... Leo said he's been following the situation in Venezuela with "a soul full of concern," the Reuters news agency reported. His comments came a day after President Trump said the U.S. would "run" Venezuela and tap its oil reserves. -- *CBS/AFP*... ## China calls on U.S. to release Maduro "at once" China says the U.S. should free Maduro immediately. The Chinese foreign ministry said in a statement Sunday that it "calls on the U.S. to ensure the personal safety of President Nicolas Maduro and his wife, release them at once, (and) stop toppling the government of Venezuela," according to French news agency AFP. Beijing also depicted the U.S. strike that captured Maduro as a "clear violation of international law." Early Saturday, China had said it "strongly condemns" the U.S. operation.... ## Venezuela's Supreme Court orders that Delcy Rodriguez assume presidency Venezuela's supreme court ordered on Saturday night that Delcy Rodriguez assume the presidency of Venezuela after Nicolas Maduro was taken by the U.S. military to face charges in New York. The court deemed it was necessary to grant Rodriguez full presidential power to "guarantee the administrative continuity" of the nation amid Maduro's absence. Rodriguez, Maduro's handpicked vice president, earlier called Maduro's capture "barbaric" and an "illegal and illegitimate kidnapping."... ## U.N. Secretary-General "deeply alarmed" by escalation in Venezuela A spokesperson for U.N. Secretary-General António Guterres said he is "deeply alarmed by the recent escalation in Venezuela, culminating with today's United States military action in the country, which has potential worrying implications for the region." In a statement, he called it "a dangerous precedent" and said Guterres is "deeply concerned that the rules of international law have not been respected." "The Secretary-General calls on all actors in Venezuela to engage in inclusive dialogue, in full respect of human rights and the rule of law," the statement said.... ## Venezuelan officials condemn Maduro's capture, calling it a "kidnapping" Hours after Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro was captured by U.S. forces, top regime figures condemned the military operation in stark terms and suggested they plan to push back on U.S. involvement in the country, posing a potential challenge to President Trump's suggestion that the U.S. will "run" Venezuela.... Maduro's handpicked vice president, Delcy Rodriguez, whom Mr. Trump said was sworn in as president Saturday, called Maduro's capture "barbaric," an "illegal and illegitimate kidnapping" and an attack on Venezuela's sovereignty. She also called for the "immediate release" of Maduro and his wife, calling him "the only president of Venezuela." Mr. Trump had said earlier Saturday that he believed Rodriguez was "essentially willing to do what we think is necessary to make Venezuela great again."... ## U.N. Security Council planning emergency meeting An emergency meeting of the United Nations Security Council to discuss Venezuela is in the works, diplomatic sources told CBS News. There is an effort underway to hold the meeting Sunday, but it could also take place Monday morning. Venezuela's envoy to the U.N., Samuel Reinaldo Moncada Acosta, requested an emergency meeting of the Security Council to discuss "acts of aggression perpetrated by the United States of America."... ## Sen. Tim Kaine planning another war powers vote this week Democratic Sen. Tim Kaine plans to bring his latest war powers resolution up for a vote this week, calling the military action in Venezuela "an illegal war." "There is no legal justification in the Constitution, in the history of the Constitution, or an American law that would authorize the president to wage war, to depose President Maduro and seize its oil and run the country of Venezuela without coming to Congress," Kaine told reporters Saturday.... "President Trump's announced plan to run Venezuela is unacceptable," they said in a joint statement. "It is critical that the Trump administration provide an immediate Gang of Eight briefing, followed by briefings for all Members of the House and Senate early next week." The Gang of Eight consists of the top leaders in each chamber, as well as the chairs and ranking members of the House and Senate intelligence committees.... ## Venezuela's vice president said she'll work with U.S., Trump says In his press conference, Mr. Trump said Delcy Rodriquez, the vice president of Venezuela, is ready to work with the U.S. The president indicated that Rubio had spoken with her. Mr. Trump said Rodriguez indicated "we'll do whatever you need," although he also said she doesn't have another choice. But Rodriguez, speaking on live television called Maduro Venezuela's "only president" and demanded the U.S. release him and his wife, Cilia Flores, according to AFP.... The New York Democrat accused the Trump administration of attempting to distract from the state of the U.S. economy and its handling of the release of Justice Department files related to the investigation into Jeffrey Epstein. "Let me be clear: Nicolás Maduro is an illegitimate dictator. But launching military action without congressional authorization and without a credible plan for what comes next is reckless," Schumer said. "The administration has assured me three separate times that it was not pursuing regime change or taking military action in Venezuela. Clearly, they are not being straight with Americans. 2. Trump says US 'hit' dock in Venezuela, marking first known land attack URL: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bmjWvJspfpM Date: 2025-12-30 Snippet: ## ABC News ##### Dec 30, 2025 (0:04:46) Retired Army Col. Seth Krummrich discusses the “hit” and the United States' escalating tensions with Venezuela. ---... ### Transcript {ts:0} Now to the first known US strike on {ts:2} Venezuelan soil. President Trump says that the US hit a Venezuelan dock where {ts:6} drugs were allegedly being loaded onto... {ts:8} boats. A major escalation in this ongoing military campaign. Questions now {ts:14} swirling over the potential next targets {ts:17} and whether this could escalate into an all-out war. Let's bring in retired Army {ts:21} Colonel Seth Kromich. Uh Seth, great to... {ts:23} have you here. Based on what we know, who do you think this carried out this {ts:28} strike? Who ordered this strike? How did {ts:30} they do it?... >> So, thanks Elizabeth. You know, when you {ts:34} look at the messaging that President {ts:36} Trump put out over the last few months, he said the US administration would {ts:40} apply military strikes and covert... {ts:43} strikes. Covert strikes being a unique messaging from the president because {ts:47} normally those stay in the shadows. So {ts:49} when we look at the initial reports that have come in, it sounds like this was a {ts:53} CIA strike earlier in the month at this... {ts:56} logistics port hub that uh is facilitating the narco network. Now, {ts:61} what's truly unique about this is {ts:63} normally covert actions stay covert. The president has come out and said, "Hey, {ts:68} we did this." And you know, the takeaway... {ts:71} when I talk to our global guardian intelligence teams or our teams in {ts:75} Venezuela or Latin America, we're in {ts:77} agreement that there must be some additional value for the president to {ts:81} come out and highlight the fact that we... {ts:83} did this strike, which normally would not be something that we would do. And {ts:88} what I believe is that this is all about {ts:90} pressure on Maduro. We've been doing strikes on drug boats and then seeing {ts:94} what the reaction is from the Maduro... {ts:97} regime and the population. Then it was the maritime interdictions of the oil {ts:101} tankers. Then doing an assessment to see {ts:103} what happened there and then figuring out what the next steps were going to {ts:106} be. I think this dock strike is now the... {ts:109} next step and we're going to go into an assessment phase and if we don't see the {ts:114} results that we're looking for from a US {ts:116} perspective then you will see followon strikes I think you'll see something {ts:121} more landbased not necessarily in Kacus... {ts:124} but looking at narco infrastructure uh maybe towards the uh Colombian border {ts:129} something along those uh along those uh {ts:132} you know those locations but make no mistake this is going to continue until {ts:137} the US gets the outcome they want and I... {ts:139} believe that is the ousting of the Maduro government. {ts:142} >> Well, that was exactly my next question, {ts:144} Seth, because what is the result that the US wants here? What's the endgame as {ts:150} far as you see it?... {ts:152} >> So, the endgame is the ouster of Maduro. But make no mistake, let's use the oil {ts:157} vessels as an example. When we grabbed {ts:159} the first, I shouldn't say grabbed, when we uh took these sanctioned oil vessels {ts:164} over, um the reaction in the Venezuelan... {ts:181} fragile economy that's suffering from inflation, things are about to get a lot {ts:186} worse. And when that happens, you're {ts:188} going to see revolution ingredients begin to percolate up and you're going {ts:191} to see real pressure on Maduro. So... {ts:194} that's what I'm looking for. This has to be an organic revolution if you're going {ts:197} to redu remove Maduro and his {ts:200} government. So, I'm looking for those after effects because make no mistake, {ts:205} we can talk about the narco effects, but... {ts:208} we truly believe this is about removing that government and and when that {ts:211} happens, there's going to be a potential {ts:213} follow-on uh effect in Cuba as well.... >> That's really fascinating to think about {ts:218} the oil the those revenues being lost as {ts:221} a way to kind of spur re revolution in Venezuela. Is there any sort of argument {ts:226} there that it's also something that... {ts:228} could benefit the US, you know, trying to cut off that um supply, get access to {ts:233} the oil? {ts:235} >> Absolutely. I I think for us, it's all about the national security strategy {ts:239} that was released earlier this month.... {ts:242} For the first time, as far back as I can remember, and I've been doing this for {ts:245} over 30 years, the national security {ts:247} strategy, it really prioritized the Western Hemisphere as a place that we're {ts:252} going to focus on and and really focus... {ts:254} our resources, whether they're military, intelligence, economic with the desired {ts:259} end state to create a more US-friendly {ts:262} and stable Western hemisphere. removing some of the nefarious players like {ts:267} China, Russia, and Iran who have deep 3. Photos show handcuffed Maduro escorted by DEA administrator URL: https://abcnews.go.com/International/live-updates/venezuela-live-updates-trump-give-details-after-us/?id=127792811 Date: 2026-01-04 Snippet: # Venezuela live updates: Trump calls out Colombia's Petro, says Cuba's 'ready to fall' Trump's comments come as Maduro's first court hearing has been set for Monday.ByIvan Pereira, Mary Kekatos, Jon Haworth, Kevin Shalvey, and David Brennan President Donald Trump said the U.S. "successfully carried out a large scale strike against Venezuela" early Saturday and that Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro and his wife were "captured and flown out of the Country." The stunning announcement came a few hours after explosions rocked the Venezuelan capital Caracas.... ## Key Headlines - 2 hours and 5 minutes agoXi condemns 'hegemonic bullying' after US attack on Venezuela - Jan 04, 2026, 10:23 PM ESTTrump says 'we’re in charge' of Venezuela, claims VP Rodriguez is cooperating - Jan 04, 2026, 5:01 AM ESTVenezuela supreme court directs VP to assume acting presidency... ## Maduro lands in New York: Sources The aircraft believed to be carrying Nicolas Maduro has touched down at Stewart Airport in Orange County, New York, Saturday afternoon, sources familiar with the matter told ABC News. Maduro is now expected to take a helicopter to New York City, accompanied by the DEA. He will then head by motorcade to a location in New York City for processing before he's held in jail, sources said. *-ABC News' Katherine Faulders, Luke Barr and Aaron Katersky*... ## Venezuelan vice president demands Maduro's return, vows to 'defend great homeland' Venezuelan Vice President Delcy Rodriguez addressed the nation on state television for the first time since President Nicolas Maduro's removal and demanded his release. Rodriguez said Maduro was the only president of Venezuela and slammed the U.S. for its early morning strike.... "We had already warned that an aggression was underway under false excuses, under false pretexts, and that the masks had fallen and it had only one objective: regime change in Venezuela — and the capture of our energy, mineral, and natural resources," she said in Spanish. Rodriguez also warned that "the people have mobilized"... "If something were to happen to him, the people must go to the streets, the armed forces must deploy across the country, and all institutions must activate — to defend what we are, as sons and daughters of Simon Bolivar," she said. "We ride to defend the great homeland," she added. *-ABC News' Dada Jovanovic and Victoria Beaule*... ## Schumer, Jeffries call for a Gang of 8 briefing House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries and Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer called for an immediate "Gang of Eight" briefing on actions in Venezuela, referring to the group of top congressional leaders briefed on national security issues. They also called for a briefing next week for all members of Congress.... "President Trump’s announced plan to run Venezuela is unacceptable," they said in a joint statement. "It is critical that the Trump administration provide an immediate Gang of Eight briefing, followed by briefings for all Members of the House and Senate early next week." *-ABC News' Allison Pecorin*... ## Top Democrat on Senate Armed Services Committee slams action in Venezuela Sen. Jack Reed, the top Democrat on the Senate Armed Services Committee, sharply rebuked the administration's actions in Venezuela and President Trump's assertion that the United States would run the country in a statement this afternoon. "Last night, President Trump waged war on a foreign nation without authorization, without notification, and without any explanation to the American people. Whatever comes next, President Trump will own the consequences," Reed said in a statement.... Reed called Trump's assertion that the United States would run Venezuela "ludicrous." "No serious plan has been presented for how such an extraordinary undertaking would work or what it will cost the American people. History offers no shortage of warnings about the costs – human, strategic, and moral – of assuming we can govern another nation by force," he said. *-ABC News' Allison Pecorin* 4. What would strikes on Venezuela look like? US target list ... URL: https://abcnews.go.com/Politics/trump-made-decision-strike-inside-venezuela/story?id=127059661 Date: 2025-10-31 Snippet: # What would strikes on Venezuela look like? US target list expected to include ports, airports used by drug smugglers After threatening land attacks, Donald Trump said he hadn't made a decision.ByAnne Flaherty The Trump administration has drawn up a secret list of targets in Venezuela the U.S. could strike upon orders of the president, according to several officials familiar with the effort, which experts said was expected to include ports, airports and other sites run by Venezuela’s President Nicolás Maduro but also used by drug cartels to transit illegal narcotics.... The classified target list, briefed to Senate Republicans earlier this week, along with a massive buildup of military assets in the region that includes some 10,000 troops, has fueled speculation that President Donald Trump could order strikes at any moment. As of Friday afternoon, it was not clear whether Trump would act. Military sources said they did not expect an imminent attack, and Trump himself told reporters he has not made a decision.... Trump, though, has previously threatened to hit Venezuela by land. And, one person familiar with how the operations would proceed if a military strike were ordered, said there were "several indications" a strike may happen "within the next 72 hours."... The last time Trump ordered a large-scale military attack in June -- a surprise B-2 stealth bomber strike on Iranian nuclear sites -- White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt told the public two days prior that Trump would make a decision on military action "within two weeks." According to The New York Times, planning for the operation was already underway and her comments were part of a misdirection campaign.... "No, it’s not true," Trump told reporters Friday when asked about reporting an attack was imminent. White House spokesperson Anna Kelly added: “Unnamed sources don’t know what they’re talking about. Any announcements regarding Venezuela policy would come directly from the president.” **How we got here** The U.S. government has long accused Maduro of being an illegitimate leader who seized power using fraudulent elections and of mismanaging the country’s considerable oil wealth. During his first term, Trump mostly relied on economic sanctions to try to force Maduro to step down.... Earlier this year, Trump aides engaged Maduro officials to coordinate prisoner swaps and deport migrants. But by spring, Trump’s tactics shifted when he designated certain drug cartels as "terrorist organizations" and began a military-led pressure campaign to try to force Maduro out. Trump and his top aides began drawing comparisons between drug smugglers and al-Qaida fighters and insisting the U.S. has the legal right to use to lethal force against anyone transiting narcotics in international waters -- a task previously handled by law enforcement.... By early September, an unprecedented buildup of military assets in the region was underway, including eight Navy ships, a submarine, Reaper Drones and F-35 fighter jets. Trump ordered the military to begin striking alleged drug vessels in the Caribbean, posting video on his social media accounts of the small boats and one semi-submersible exploding.... By October, with Maduro still in power, Trump ramped up operations, sending nuclear-capable bombers and a team of Special Operations forces in helicopters to buzz Venezuela’s coast. In a highly unusual move, the president publicly announced that he had ordered "covert operations" inside the country -- a move widely seen as trying to rattle Maduro. Trump also ordered the deployment of a massive aircraft carrier and its accompanying ships and F-18 aircraft.... Since Sept. 2, the military has launched 14 strikes and killed 61 people, according to a U.S. government account. **What could happen next** If Trump decides to pull the trigger on military strikes, he’d likely have three options – covert action; limited air strikes on sites like airports and ports; or a full-scale military invasion similar to the 1989 U.S. operation in Panama coined "Operation Just Cause."... ABC News contributor Darrell Blocker, who, while in the Air Force, was deployed as part of the U.S. invasion of Panama, said limited military strikes inside Venezuela seems the most likely scenario in Venezuela, although it’s difficult to say for sure given the administration’s rhetoric. Blocker, who later became a CIA operative, said that if a large-scale attack on Venezuela is in the cards, U.S. troops will face serious risks.... "I’ve witnessed military operations from the ground in Panama, Somalia, and Pakistan and methinks the administration is making a major error by underestimating the people of Venezuela by operating from the premise that liberating them from their oppressive regimes means they accept outside intervention," he said. "Iraq, Libya, Afghanistan and the aforementioned countries proved otherwise."... Retired Adm. James Stavridis, a former top commander of troops throughout Latin America, agreed a full-scale land invasion seemed unlikely. In an opinion article for Bloomberg, Stavridis said that initially the most likely targets would be narcotics-related, such as airports and seaports where drugs are loaded and trans-shipment points near Venezuela’s border with Colombias.... Cell towers, satellite base stations, office facilities and fuel-storage centers also are likely on the target list, Stavridis wrote. Next up would be any facilities that could threaten U.S. Navy warships or protect drug smugglers, with top priority given to Venezuelan air defense sites, followed by air strikes against Venezuelan armed forces.... "Then comes the hardest decision: Whether to conduct a 'decapitation' strike against Maduro and his senior leaders," Stavridis wrote. "It’s worth noting that Trump did not authorize such an attack against Iranian leaders when he bombed the country’s nuclear facilities in June. On the other hand, he did not hesitate to use deadly force against Qassem Soleimani, the leader of Iran’s Quds force, during his first administration." 5. How Venezuela is reacting to latest escalatory US rhetoric | DW News URL: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=a4f1BJYKtZA Date: 2025-11-18 Snippet: ## DW News ##### Nov 18, 2025 (0:10:45) The Trump administration is ramping up the pressure on Venezeula. Secretary of State Marco Rubio says the US plans to designate a cartel - it claims is run by Venezuela's president - as a foreign terrorist organization. In a statement released on Sunday, Rubio said:"...the Cartel de los Soles is headed by Nicolás Maduro and other high-ranking individuals of the illegitimate Maduro regime who have corrupted Venezuela’s military, intelligence, legislature, and judiciary. Neither Maduro nor his cronies represent Venezuela’s legitimate government."... The announcement comes as America's most advanced aircraft carrier arrives in the Caribbean Sea. The US Southern Command released this image of the USS Gerald R. Ford Carrier Strike Group, confirming it was now there. Part of the largest build up of US firepower in the region for generations. And over the weekend, the US military released this footage of its latest strike on an alleged drug trafficking boat - killing 3 people aboard. Since early September, such US strikes have killed at least 83 people in 21 attacks in the Caribbean and eastern Pacific.... Für Videos in deutscher Sprache besuchen Sie: https://www.youtube.com/dwdeutsch Subscribe: https://www.youtube.com/user/deutschewelleenglish?sub_confirmation=1 #venezuela #trump #maduro... ### Transcript {ts:0} Well, the Trump administration is ramping up the pressure on Venezuela. US {ts:4} Secretary of State Marco Rubio says the US plans to designate a cartel he claims is run by Venezuela's president as a {ts:11} foreign terrorist organization. In a statement released on Sunday, Rubio said, "The cartel Delos Solless is... {ts:18} headed by Nicholas Maduro and other high-ranking individuals of the illegitimate Maduro regime who have {ts:25} corrupted Venezuela's military, intelligence, legislature, and judiciary. Neither Maduro nor his {ts:32} cronies represent Venezuela's legitimate government." Well, the announcement comes as America's most advanced... {ts:38} aircraft carrier arrives in the Caribbean. The US Southern Command released this image of the USS Gerald R. {ts:46} Ford carrier strike group, confirming that it is now there. Part of the largest buildup of US firepower in the {ts:54} region that we've seen for generations.... And over the weekend, the US military released this footage of its latest {ts:60} strike on an alleged drug trafficking boat, killing three people on board. Since early September, such US strikes {ts:69} have killed at least 83 people in 21 attacks in the Caribbean and Eastern Pacific.... {ts:76} Well, meanwhile, on Sunday, US President Donald Trump suggested that he could hold talks with the Venezuelan {ts:82} president. We may be discussing, we may be having some discussions with Maduro and we'll {ts:90} see how that turns out. Mr. They would like they would like to talk.... All right. Joining me now is James B. {ts:98} Story. He served as US ambassador to Venezuela from 2018 to 2023 under both presidents Biden and Trump. Ambassador, {ts:107} it's good to have you on the program. Um, the US plans to designate the Venezuelan cartel de los a terrorist... {ts:115} group and it alleges that it is being led by the country's president Nicholas Maduro. um what would be the {ts:122} significance of this change? Well, you know, I I don't think it necessarily um gives any more {ts:131} authorities to the to the authorities that the president has been deploying um against the narcotics organizations.... {ts:137} Perhaps it broadens it a bit. It gives him a a different definition of uh the organization that he's going after. Um {ts:145} but the president um has all of the resources in the region to take directed action. This ramps up that pressure to {ts:152} some extent.... So it's a political message as well. Uh but in actuality, even without designating them as an FTO, I {ts:159} believe that the the president um uh has it has his belief that he can act um unilaterally. Now, {ts:167} do you think that this this show of military might, we've got the USS Gerald Ford there in the Caribbean, um, is that... {ts:175} proportional to the perceived threat coming from Maduro and his, you know, as they say, his narco terrorist state. {ts:188} Yeah. Well, it it's not a counter narcotics operation. This is not a flatilla you put you put out for counter {ts:193} narcotics.... {ts:212} these transnational criminal organizations. Um what we have here is something that is um obviously {ts:218} overwhelming amount of force for that mission and an overwhelming amount of force even for the Venezuela problem {ts:224} set. The the issue here the Venezuelans do they have the ability to to go toe-to-toe with the United States?... {ts:249} they're talking about talks um as someone who's been engaged in talks with the Madur regime I would {ts:255} submit that the contours of that discussion should be about his departure his voluntary departure or also {ts:264} communicating the threat that if you don't leave on your own reconnaissance we will make you... {ts:273} Well, I I think that threat exists, right? Under the first Trump administration, he would often say all {ts:278} options are on the table, which was interpreted to mean military options in Venezuela. Well, now the options that {ts:284} are on the table are on the front doorstep of uh of Maduro.... Um I believe the implication here is that if Maduro {ts:292} doesn't take the proactive measure of leaving that we could help u help him see the door ourselves. But let's {ts:299} remember there was a vote that took place in Venezuela in July of last year and overwhelmingly the Democratic {ts:306} opposition won the election.... Yet Maduro refused refused to leave. Are you confident, ambassador, that if {ts:314} there were to be um an exit by Maduro that there would be a a political infrastructure in place that would fill {ts:323} a possible power vacuum that would be left by Maduro's departure? I mean, is Venezuela prepared... {ts:330} for a chapter to end overnight? Well, one of the things that I I believe is incumbent upon the leader of the {ts:339} opposition, Maria Konina Machado, and Edmundo Gonzalez, who won the presidency in the election of last year, is to lay {ts:345} out their 24-hour, 48 hour, one week, three month, six month strategy on how they're going to govern.... Because let's {ts:354} remember that all of the institutions inside of Venezuela uh have been um eaten away and destroyed. They're no {ts:361} longer independent institutions. So if let's say that that we wake up tomorrow, Maduro's gone, Maria Kina Machado is {ts:368} there, Edmund Gonzalez flies in and now you have to deal with a few issues.... One, reinstitutionalizing the country. That's {ts:376} going to take time. That's not going to be overnight and it's not going to be linear. The second big problem is that {ts:382} Venezuela is a failed state. It's a failed state. They don't control their own territory.... You have dissident {ts:388} elements of the FARC in the ELN, two Marxist drug trafficking organizations, FTO's from Colombia, who are now inside {ts:395} of Venezuela, as well as the Cartles, the Taragua, and of course, Hezbollah and other actors operating inside.... {ts:459} about to lose everything. And four days before the Berlin Wall came down, the Washington Post said our {ts:467} policies were flawed and we needed to rethink our engagement between NATO and the Soviet block. Right? I mean, things {ts:474} don't happen until they happen, and then they happen quite quickly.... Uh part of Maduro's strategy right now is trying to {ts:480} generate sympathy uh and show support internally. Uh he really doesn't have any. He claims that there are 8 million {ts:487} members of this civilian militia in the country. He didn't even get four million votes in the last election.... I certainly wouldn't be comfortable where {ts:530} I am. you you have seen the US go back and forth on Venezuela, you know, from the {ts:536} the the carrot to the stick, if you will, and there are some who say that mixing sanctions and concessions has {ts:543} produced total mistrust of America by Venezuela, which is the opposite of what Washington... {ts:550} um would want. What are your thoughts on that? Well, I mean, I guess the premise is a {ts:558} little flawed and because the opposition in Venezuela has has um uh engaged in uh negotiations with the regime multiple {ts:567} times. They've had the Vatican involved, Norway involved, Barbados involved, Mexico involved, United States involved.... Um the fact of the matter is the people have already spoken. So the so {ts:594} the fact that now Maduro is trying to negotiate this is a case of him, you can either call it kick the can down the {ts:600} road or Lucy and the football and um I think everybody's tired of being Charlie Brown trying to kick that football. 6. US-Venezuela News | South America On Edge: US–Venezuela Tensions Spike URL: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pqgyzcw4w54 Date: 2025-12-20 Snippet: ## NDTV ##### Dec 20, 2025 (0:09:57) There’s a growing likelihood of an all-out war in South America. The U.S.-Venezuela hostilities have been escalating as the Trump administration views Venezuela as a principal actor in the non-stop inflow of drugs, fentanyl and illegal immigrants into America. For Trump, stopping illegal fentanyl and illegal immigrants is a key policy issue, for which he is even willing to go to war with Venezuela.... There has been a sharp escalation after Trump ordered “a total and complete” blockade of all sanctioned oil tankers entering and leaving Venezuela. He has also designated Maduro’s government a Foreign Terrorist Organisation (FTO). NDTV World’s Gaurie Dwivedi sheds light on the story with an explainer and discusses the nuances of the issue with former CIA officer Glenn Carle.... ### Transcript {ts:0} The growing likelihood of an all-out war {ts:2} in South America, the United States and Venezuela, the hostilities between the {ts:6} two have been escalating as the Trump... {ts:8} administration views Venezuela as a principal actor [music] in the non-stop {ts:14} inflow of drugs, fentin, [music] and {ts:17} illegal immigrants inside America. For Trump, stopping illegal fentinil and {ts:22} illegal immigrants is priority number... {ts:25} one, for which it is even willing to go to war with Venezuela. And there [music] {ts:28} has been a sharp escalation after Donald {ts:31} Trump ordered a total and complete blockade. That's a naval blockade of all {ts:36} sanctioned [music] oil tankers entering... {ts:38} and leaving Venezuela. And in fact, the country Venezuela termed this as wararm {ts:42} mongering threats. Donald Trump has {ts:44} [music] also designated Maduro's government as a foreign terrorist {ts:48} organization. Now, let's tell you... {ts:50} exactly how it's looking like and then we take the story forward. {ts:55} First up now in terms of how this is {ts:57} looking like uh is this really now edging closest to a warlike situation? {ts:63} [music] US has seized oil tanker off the... {ts:66} Venezuelan coast about on the 10th of December and that is when there was a {ts:70} sharp escalation that has taken place in {ts:73} the conflict and in these hostilities. [music] {ts:75} Maduro's government was engaged in drug... {ts:77} smuggling and human trafficking. This is what the Donald Trump administration {ts:81} [music] {ts:81} has quoted saying this is why they need to act against Maduro government. Al {ts:86} Donald Trump has also said that... {ts:88} Venezuela [music] is now surrounded by the largest Armada ever of uh and {ts:93} assembled in South America's history. {ts:95} Essentially saying that the troop deployment is [music] now unprecedented {ts:100} and Venezuela has no way out. visa and... {ts:104} fresh sanctions have also been imposed on oil which is essentially the lifeline {ts:108} of the Venezuelan economy along with key {ts:111} Madro aids that have now been sanctioned by the US government. It doesn't end {ts:115} there. There have been more action that... {ts:117} has been taken. Now this rapid escalation has actually taken place {ts:120} since September when multiple boats of {ts:123} Venezuela were attacked by American authorities because they felt that these {ts:127} are illegal uh immigrants or illegal... {ts:143} Trump says that this is the largest ever troop deployment, he actually means that {ts:148} and he's [music] willing to go this uh {ts:150} to go even higher as the attacks on Venezuelan boats continue [music] and 90 {ts:156} people till now have been killed. Now... {ts:258} people uh but he has this uh objective it seems to uh to change the government {ts:265} in Venezuela. Trump he Trump. {ts:268} >> All right. So, so we told our viewers about some of the comments that Donald {ts:271} Trump has made in the last one week or... >> Well, uh I don't think that Maduro will {ts:289} go gently into that good night. So the {ts:292} the likelihood of military uh clash is certainly growing and high. Um I think {ts:301} it is easier to overthrow a government... {ts:322} He has his Ptorian guard Maduro. So the chances are growing higher and higher. {ts:328} Yeah, certainly it is {ts:331} a bit mysterious what it is Trump thinks that he will be accomplishing. Now the {ts:337} drugs coming from Venezuela is real,... {ts:469} that uh no intermediate step other than Maduro leaving uh appears to be uh that {ts:477} it would be satisfactory {ts:479} but it's it is a mystery because uh who would replace the what would replace the {ts:485} government and uh what would the United... {ts:552} actually going for the jugular, and Donald Trump knows that. Venezuela has {ts:556} the world's largest oil deposits, and {ts:558} its oil sector is its biggest economic driver. Add to it America's eagerness to {ts:564} have a regime that is more favorably... {ts:565} [music] disposed to it. In fact, this is a foreign policy goal that Donald Trump {ts:569} shares with his predecessor, Joe Biden. {ts:571} He had even doubled the bounty on Maduro's head. But the question is what {ts:577} more can Donald Trump do after a naval... {ts:579} blockade? And how long can Maduro withstand these pressures before his {ts:584} time is up? And lastly, is this as much {ts:587} about Donald Trump's image, PR, and zest to get the Nobel Peace Prize as it is {ts:594} about fixing Venezuela? 7. US actions pile pressure on Venezuela's regime | DW News URL: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=e2p_pqGGn2Y Date: 2025-12-12 Snippet: ## DW News ##### Dec 12, 2025 (0:06:48) US President Donald Trump ramps up his attacks on Venezuela's President Nicolas Maduro and builds up the US military presence in the Caribbean. Meanwhile, Venezuelan opposition leader and Nobel Peace Laureate Maria Corina Machado made her first public appearence in eleven months in Oslo. She praised US efforts to end Maduro's grip on power, saying he's turned Venezuela into a criminal hub.... 00:00 US actions pile pressure on Venezuela's regime 01:22 James B. Story, Former US Ambassador to Venezuela For more news go to: http://www.dw.com/en/ Follow DW on social media: ►Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/dwnews ►TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@dwnews ►Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/deutschewellenews/ ►Twitter: https://twitter.com/dwnews... Für Videos in deutscher Sprache besuchen Sie: https://www.youtube.com/dwdeutsch Subscribe: https://www.youtube.com/user/deutschewelleenglish?sub_confirmation=1 #Venezuela #Trump #Machado... ### Transcript {ts:0} Well, the US Homeland Security Secretary says Wednesday's seizure of an oil {ts:4} tanker off the Venezuelan coast was was part of efforts to stop drug smuggling. The seizure comes as Donald Trump ramps {ts:11} up his attacks on President Nicholas Maduro and builds up the US military presence in the Caribbean.... Meanwhile, {ts:18} Venezuelan opposition leader and Nobel Peace Laureate Maria Corina Machado made her first public appearance in 11 months {ts:25} in Oslo. She praised US efforts to end Maduro's grip on power, saying he's turned Venezuela into a criminal hub. {ts:34} Some people talk about invasion in Venezuela, the threat of an invasion in Venezuela.... And I answered, Venezuela was {ts:40} has been already invaded. We have the Russian agents. We have the Iranian agents. We have terrorist groups such as {ts:48} Hezbollah, Hamas operating freely in accordance with the regime. We have the Colombian gerilla, the drug cartels that... {ts:56} have taken over 60% of our population and not only involved in drug trafficking but in human trafficking in {ts:63} networks of prostitution. Uh so this has turned Venezuela into the criminal hub of the Americas. {ts:71} Now for more on this we had the chance to talk to former US ambassador to Venezuela, James B.... Story. I asked him {ts:77} earlier if the pressure from the US is actually changing the situation on the ground. {ts:82} I think it's certainly starting to change the calculus um of both Maduro and those around Maduro {ts:90} um uh about what the future portends.... I mean, now that this latest incident with the skipper uh this oil tanker that was {ts:100} seized, I think this is going to send a pretty chilling signal uh to the um international uh uh companies involved {ts:109} in shipping oil, especially the ghost fleet, that perhaps Venezuela is a bad bet for business.... And uh to the extent {ts:118} that the Venezuelan regime lives off of gold smuggling, narcotic smuggling, and of course uh the black market and oil, {ts:127} uh it's going to mean it's going to be a little more difficult for Maduro to pay for those people that keep them in... {ts:131} power. Do recent US strikes, James, and the tanker seizure, do they still fall under {ts:137} counter narcotics or or have we gone past this? Have they effectively now become fairly openly a push for regime {ts:144} change? Well, I've said it from the beginning.... This was about regime change. You don't {ts:150} have an aircraft carrier to go after small pangas, small fishing boats loaded with cocaine, for instance, nor do you {ts:156} have F-35s. Um, what this does do is it opens yet another front, an economic front.... Um, {ts:163} and it's going to quickly dry up all of the ghost fleet. So, these are these are oil tankers that have been purchased. {ts:171} They spoof their location. They they every one of these large ships has to have an AIS tracker on it to let other {ts:178} ships know that they're a navigational hazard.... And they'll say they're in one place, but they're really in another. {ts:184} They come into Venezuela. They pick up a load of oil and then they launder that oil through places such as Malaysia and {ts:191} other places in Southeast Asia to China. They take it up to Cuba.... Cuba then sells it or uses it for itself. So it opens up {ts:199} another front, puts a tremendous amount of pressure um on the Maduro regime. But I want to be really clear here. This was {ts:206} a sanctioned VE vessel. That's one thing. But according to international law, this was a stateless vessel.... They {ts:212} were flying a GY flag and they're not on the GY registry. Um that makes it fair game under the conventional law of the {ts:220} sea. With the US operations escalating, how real is the risk of wider confrontation {ts:228} with Venezuela?... I don't think we're going to have a confrontation with Venezuela. I think {ts:235} there's a possibility of some kind of a kinetic activity that happens within Venezuela, but the vast majority of the {ts:241} Venezuelan people voted Maduro out of office last year. Those are the same people that went out to vote who have... {ts:247} family members in the military. They may not be vocal, but they certainly don't stand with Maduro. Maduro is surrounded {ts:254} by his collectivos. kind of a semiofficial motorcycle gang that he uses to terrorize people and other um {ts:263} bad actors working through organizations such as military intelligence deassim it's called or Sabine the local... {ts:271} intelligence service and these are the people who have kidnapped Americans uh tortured Americans uh and crucially have {ts:279} done that to their own people just this week one of Maria Konino Matalo's um uh operatives who was a former governor {ts:286} opposition governor was murdered while in custody because he has political beliefs that don't align with the with... {ts:294} the Maduro regime. So I I I I you know when I say when you think conflict, he's already Maduro is already in conflict {ts:300} with his own people. You describe the people and the practices, some of the things that keep {ts:305} him in power.... I guess what would it take to create the perfect conditions that that allow Machado or any opposition {ts:313} figure to safely return and potentially drive a democratic transition. Well, I just want to be very clear that {ts:322} Munu Gonzalez won the election last year. is very clear and according to law the law in Venezuela you have to show... {ts:329} the proof called the actis from the voting um the voting uh booths on on the exact count uh and the regime never {ts:338} showed them uh but the democratic opposition had them right but what will it take it'll take Maduro's departure I {ts:344} don't think there's any scenario in which uh Maduro remaining uh in power in some way or power sharing arrangement... {ts:352} would redound in the restoration of democracy For 25 years, Chavez and Imaduro and {ts:358} Chavismo or Madurismo has has completely destroyed the institutions of state in the country and destroyed the democracy {ts:367} in Venezuela. Um so Maduro has to leave. that's insufficient uh for fixing the problem because then you have to... {ts:375} reinstitutionalize the country and that's where the United States, European Union, the neighborhood as well, Brazil, {ts:382} Colombia, others have a have an important role to play in supporting the Venezuelan people. {ts:388} Former US ambassador to Venezuela, James B.... Story. We understand that your opinions and your expertise are in high {ts:395} demand today. So, we really appreciate your time. Great to see you. It's always a pleasure. Thank you. 8. US Strikes Narcotics Loading Docks in Venezuela URL: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CdI1XOId8wc Date: 2025-12-30 Snippet: ## Bloomberg Television ##### Dec 30, 2025 (0:02:44) President Donald Trump said the US struck a facility inside Venezuela, in what would be a significant escalation in its campaign against alleged drug trafficking operations there. Tyler Kendall reports on that and Trump's efforts to end the war in Ukraine. -------- More on Bloomberg Television and Markets Like this video? Subscribe and turn on notifications so you don't miss any videos from Bloomberg Markets & Finance: https://tinyurl.com/ysu5b8a9 Visit http://www.bloomberg.com for business news & analysis, up-to-the-minute market data, features, profiles and more.... Connect with Bloomberg Television on: X: https://twitter.com/BloombergTV Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/BloombergTelevision Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/bloombergtv/... Connect with Bloomberg Business on: X: https://twitter.com/business Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/bloombergbusiness Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/bloombergbusiness/ TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@bloombergbusiness?lang=en Reddit: https://www.reddit.com/r/bloomberg/ LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/bloomberg-news/... More from Bloomberg: Bloomberg Radio: https://twitter.com/BloombergRadio Bloomberg Surveillance: https://twitter.com/bsurveillance Bloomberg Politics: https://twitter.com/bpolitics Bloomberg Originals: https://twitter.com/bbgoriginals... Watch more on YouTube: Bloomberg Technology: https://www.youtube.com/@BloombergTechnology Bloomberg Originals: https://www.youtube.com/@business Bloomberg Quicktake: https://www.youtube.com/@BloombergQuicktake Bloomberg Espanol: https://www.youtube.com/@bloomberg_espanol Bloomberg Podcasts: https://www.youtube.com/@BloombergPodcasts... ### Transcript {ts:0} What do we know? Where does it stand, Tyler? Yeah. Hey, Matt. {ts:3} Well, this is definitely complicating President Trump's efforts to try to make progress on ending the war in Ukraine. And it really does feel like a market shift from the optimism that we heard... projected from President Trump after {ts:15} that series of talks with the Ukrainian President Zelensky, over the weekend on what was a flurry of diplomatic activity. Now, as you mentioned, we did hear from President Trump yesterday. {ts:25} He expressed a disappointment to reporters at Mar a Lago, saying that this allegation does not come at the... right time in the peace negotiating process. As you mentioned, of course, important {ts:36} for us to say that Ukraine is calling this a, quote, a big lie. And they're alleging that the Kremlin could actually use this to set the groundwork to attack government buildings in Kiev.... {ts:46} But President Trump said that what he gleaned from his conversation with Russian President Vladimir Putin, his second yesterday in as many days is that the Kremlin is going to revise its negotiating strategy, though at this {ts:58} point, it is unclear what they are... actually going to reconsider because, of course, there is a lot of sticking points on the table. And Bloomberg News is still reporting that Russia in recent days has continued {ts:68} to hammer Ukraine when it comes to missile and drone strikes. The biggest sticking point, though, on the table, as we have repeatedly heard, is what is going to happen when it comes... to the future of potential territory {ts:80} concessions. And over the weekend, we did hear from both sides, as we discussed yesterday. But I would just put a finer point on this, that the new development was our understanding at Bloomberg News that the {ts:92} draft agreement currently in place would... hold that referendum vote for Ukrainians to decide what happens in the eastern Donbass region. But at this point, Matt and Paul, if we go to what Russia would really accept, {ts:105} Ukraine says that they need to see some conditions, not including that Russia withdraw its troops. And at this point, it doesn't seem like that's happening.... Tyler a little closer to home in {ts:113} Venezuela, President Trump says U.S. forces struck narcotics loading docks in Venezuela. What do we know about that? Right. So this is a significant escalation in {ts:123} the pressure campaign. We didn't really get further details beyond what President Trump said.... His quote was that there was a, quote, major explosion in the dock area where they loaded the boats up with drugs. {ts:133} This does appear to confirm something that he had suggested in a radio interview on Friday that the US was targeting a big plant or a big facility, in his words.... There is reporting out from CNN that we {ts:145} have yet to confirm that earlier this month the CIA conducted a drone strike on a dock and that there were no casualties reported. The White House has not commented on that report, but this would mark the {ts:155} first known land strike inside... Venezuela, though, of course, as you well know, President Trump has long been threatening this. 9. US Senate Refuses To Block Venezuela Strike: Suspected Drug Vessel Kills Three Men | WION URL: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZOS7_-MddKk Date: 2025-11-07 Snippet: ## WION ##### Nov 07, 2025 (0:07:47) Tensions between the United States and Venezuela have escalated after a U.S. military operation targeted a suspected drug-smuggling vessel in the Caribbean, resulting in the deaths of three men. Washington claims the strike was part of its anti-narcotics mission, while Caracas condemned the attack as a violation of sovereignty.... #usvenezuela #carribbean #wion About Channel: WION The World is One News examines global issues with in-depth analysis. We provide much more than the news of the day. Our aim is to empower people to explore their world. With our Global headquarters in New Delhi, we bring you news on the hour, by the hour. We deliver information that is not biased. We are journalists who are neutral to the core and non-partisan when it comes to world politics. People are tired of biased reportage and we stand for a globalized united world. So for us, the World is truly One.... Please keep discussions on this channel clean and respectful and refrain from using racist or sexist slurs and personal insults. Subscribe to our channel at https://goo.gl/JfY3NI Check out our website: http://www.wionews.com Join our WhatsApp Channel: https://bit.ly/455YOQ0 Connect with us on our social media handles: Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/WIONews Twitter: https://twitter.com/WIONews Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/wionews/ Follow us on Google News for the latest updates... Zee News:- https://bit.ly/2Ac5G60 Zee Business:- https://bit.ly/36vI2xa DNA India:- https://bit.ly/2ZDuLRY WION: https://bit.ly/3gnDb5J Zee News Apps: https://bit.ly/ZeeNewsApps... ### Transcript {ts:0} The US military carried out a kinetic strike on a suspected drug vessel in {ts:6} international waters in the Caribbean which killed three men. Now, defense secretary Pete Hex has said that the {ts:13} strike was carried out at the direction of President Donald Trump claiming that the vessel was trafficking narcotics and... {ts:20} was operated by a designed begard designated terror organization. The development comes after it was reported {ts:27} that a pair of US Air Force B-52 bombers flew over the Caribbean Sea along the Venezuelan coast on Thursday, marking {ts:36} the fourth US military flyover near Venezuela since mid-occtober.... The two bombers flew parallel to {ts:42} Venezuela's northern coast before circling northeast of Caracus and then heading back to the sea. Washington said {ts:50} that the flights were part of its counter narco campaign that targeted alleged drug smugglers across the {ts:56} Caribbean and Latin America.... Venezuelan officials, however, see the buildup as a threat to their sovereignity. Earlier, {ts:64} the US Senate even blocked a resolution to stop President Trump from attacking Venezuela without congressional {ts:70} authorization. The US Navy currently has six warships in the Caribbean, including the USS Gerald R.... Ford carrier strike {ts:78} group. United States has also deployed F-35 stealth warplanes to Pto Rico with US forces saying that they have carried {ts:87} out strikes on 17 suspected drug smuggling vessels since the month of September which has killed at least 67 {ts:95} people.... Venezuelan President Nicholas Maduro has accused Washington of using anti-drug campaign as a cover for an {ts:102} attempted regime change. During a socialist party rally, Maduro even joked that American media attention has been {ts:108} made has made him more famous than American singer Taylor Swift.... Super mustache. Super mustache. {ts:150} And to discuss the tensions brewing between US and Venezuela and uh the US carrying out strikes in the Caribbean {ts:157} region, Dr. Glenn Diesen, professor of international relations at the University of Southeastern Norway and uh {ts:164} editor at Russia in global affairs journal joins us on the broadcast live from Oslo.... Appreciate you Mr. Dyson {ts:171} Diesel joining us on the broadcast. Your assessment of Trump's military buildup in South Caribbean. While Maduro has {ts:178} accused us of plotting a regime change, US says that strikes are part of its counter narcotics campaign. {ts:187} Well, it's um uh it's usually how war propaganda is carried out.... You have to sell any war to the public. And uh in {ts:195} this instance, uh the Trump administration favors uh the approach of presenting the Venezuelan government as {ts:203} illegitimate because it's allegedly well a drug cartel posing as a government. Uh but of course behind the scenes or not... {ts:211} so much behind the scenes, there's the talk of oil. that is Venezuela has the largest reserve in the world and Trump {ts:218} himself has on camera said uh on more than one occasion that all of this oil could end up in the United States and {ts:227} this is the main motivation.... There's also talk in the political class in the United States that they're very happy {ts:234} that this very energy rich country has aligned itself with adversarial countries such as China and uh Russia. {ts:242} But uh I would also put in the wider context that uh as the world becomes multipolar the US has few resources and... {ts:248} has to prioritize more. It has made it clear that it will focus on shoring up its dominance on in the western uh in {ts:258} the western hemisphere as well as east Asia of course. So, uh, you know, this, um, um, this, uh, this talk about, uh,... {ts:268} ships and, uh, carrying drugs, I it doesn't really make that much sense, uh, from my perspective, especially given {ts:276} that most of the drugs coming into the US, goes through the West Coast and Mexico, and a lot of these ships which {ts:284} are being bombed is happening very far away from the American coast.... So there's no evidence that these ships are {ts:291} carrying drugs and even if the war usually you don't bomb them. You you know this is a policing issue. {ts:297} Yes. Uh Mr. Dies, that's precisely the point. No proof whatsoever has been provided by the US regarding whether uh... {ts:304} these vessels were actually carrying narotic substances. However, in your view, if US were to carry out attacks {ts:311} against land targets as well, would it be justified on national security grounds? because many experts even {ts:318} believe that the strikes may actually violate international law.... Oh, well, it is aggression against {ts:325} another country. This is a uh a big violation of international law and um the US has made it clear they would like {ts:333} to have regime change in in um in Venezuela. So, it's uh I I don't see how it can be much doubt that this is a... {ts:342} violation of international law. uh the rhetoric they're using in the US of course is that uh all the drugs are {ts:349} harming the the population in the United States but as I mentioned uh most of the drugs comes from other locations they {ts:357} have a different pathways into the United States and obviously the US isn't taking these measures against any of... {ts:362} those states but even if it was it would still be illegal what I do find interesting though is that they're going {ts:369} the Trump administration is going with this narot terrorism justification because traditionally over the past 30 {ts:375} years uh most western countries have aligned more along the line of um tradition... {ts:383} support of democracy and human rights. So that's why we have to push international law aside. Um but uh he's {ts:390} gone more for the yeah this hard security issue and uh it was quite well you've seen this also from the Nobel {ts:397} Peace Prize winner uh Machado who yes who given the Nobel Peace Prize it could... {ts:403} have been a good liberal democratic justification for war but she's also aligned herself with this narot {ts:409} terrorism justification for the invasion and u she's also been very clear open in the media that if the US army army {ts:418} topples Maduro and installs in her into power then there would be a massive privatization and all of those resources... {ts:425} would be flooding towards the United States. So it's um again it's uh it's it's motivated by natural resources and {ts:434} it's definitely a violation of international law and uh but uh but again {ts:439} narratives you always have to sell a war and this is the narcotic thing is what they seem to be going for.... {ts:445} Yes, point taken Mr. The reason remains to be seen whether there is if at all any basis to the claims being made by {ts:451} Maduro regarding possible regime change attempt that is probably being made by the US. Thanks for speaking to me all. {ts:462} [Music] 10. Trump Confirms Attack on Dock in Venezuela, Maduro Compares US to "Goliath" | Firstpost America URL: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gxtme9E5xvg Date: 2025-12-30 Snippet: ## Firstpost ##### Dec 30, 2025 (0:06:06) The US military has carried out its 30th strike against alleged drug-smuggling boats, killing at least two people and pushing the death toll past 100. President Trump has confirmed a strike on a dock facility in Venezuela, marking the first known US land strike in the country during this campaign. Trump says the attacks are part of a drug war against cartels. Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro rejects the claims, warning his nation is facing a "Goliath" threat as Washington increases military pressure in the region.... --- USA | Venezuela | US Military Strikes | Caribbean Crisis 2025 | Venezuela Conflict | US Venezuela Tensions | Trump Administration Actions | UN Charter Violations | Caribbean Airstrikes | Drug Trafficking Caribbean | Venezuela Oil Blockade | Firstpost America | Eric Ham | War | Geopolitics | Global Economy | Firstpost | World News | Latest News | Global News | International News | Trending News... #donaldtrump #usa #venezuela #airstrikes #drugtrafficker #oilblockade #nicolasmaduro #firstpostamerica #ericham #war #geopolitics #economy #firstpost #worldnews #latestnews #globalnews #internationalnews #trendingnews... Firstpost is an Indian news and media website. Get all the incisive opinions, in-depth analyses and other visual stories that matter to you and the world right here on this channel. Subscribe to Firstpost channel and press the bell icon to get notified when we go live. https://www.youtube.com/@Firstpost... ### Transcript {ts:0} And now to the Caribbean where the US {ts:2} military has confirmed another deadly strike on a boat it says was smuggling {ts:7} drugs in the eastern Pacific Ocean,... {ts:9} killing at least two people. The attack announced by US Southern Command {ts:13} yesterday as part of an aggressive {ts:15} campaign ordered by President Donald Trump that's now seen 30 boat strikes {ts:19} and at least more than 100 deaths since... {ts:23} early September, according to figures released by the White House. In footage {ts:27} shared online, a fast-moving boat is {ts:29} seen cutting through open waters before being hit by two explosions. The US {ts:34} military described the victims as narot... {ts:36} terrorists and claimed the vessel was engaged in drug trafficking, though it {ts:40} did not provide independent evidence to {ts:43} support the accusation. Now, the latest strike comes as Trump openly {ts:47} acknowledged that the US now has hit... {ts:49} targets on Venezuelan soil, marking the first known land strike in the country {ts:54} since Washington launched its pressure {ts:56} campaign just four months ago. Speaking to reporters in Florida while meeting {ts:61} Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin... {ts:62} Netanyahu, Trump said that the US had attacked a dock facility used to load {ts:68} drug smuggling boats. But there was a {ts:71} major explosion in the dock area where they load the boats up with drugs. {ts:75} They load the boats up with drugs. So we... >> The president has declined to say {ts:90} whether the US military or the CIA carried out the strike or where exactly {ts:95} it occurred. In fact, even the White... {ts:97} House and the Pentagon have not released further details. Now, Venezuelan {ts:101} authorities have also not confirmed any {ts:104} US attack and there have been no independent reports from inside the {ts:107} country. And now with the escalation... {ts:109} comes amid a large US military buildup in the region with troops deployed {ts:114} across both the Caribbean and Eastern {ts:116} Pacific. And alongside the both strikes, Washington has seized at least two {ts:120} Venezuelan linked oil tankers and is... {ts:123} pursuing a third enforcing what officials describe as a maritime {ts:127} quarantine on sanctioned oil exports. {ts:131} President has justified the campaign as a necessary response to drug {ts:135} trafficking, insisting the US is in an... {ts:138} armed conflict with drug cartels. In fact, President Trump's administration {ts:143} has accused Venezuelan President {ts:144} Nicholas Maduro of narot terrorism, a charge Karakus strongly denies. {ts:151} Venezuela has been a very bad actor.... {ts:168} Washington DC. We took care of them very quickly. {ts:172} >> Maduro, however, says the real aim is {ts:174} regime change. And in a speech to Venezuela's armed forces, he framed the {ts:179} confrontation in stark terms.... {ts:184} >> Venezuela has been under threat from Goliath for 27 weeks. And for 27 weeks, {ts:189} our military force has been deployed {ts:191} with intelligence, wisdom, and strategic patience. {ts:195} Now, President Trump, however, has... {ts:197} remained unfased and has shown no sign of backing down. Meanwhile, as he pushes {ts:203} the United States closer and closer to {ts:205} war in Venezuela, Congress has done very little to push back on the president or {ts:211} even do its job of actually checking and... {ts:214} balancing [music] the president in terms of what exactly is happening in the {ts:217} region. US president has repeatedly {ts:220} hinted that strikes could continue to expand further on land and recently said {ts:224} the US would move beyond targeting boats... {ts:227} soon. Nicholas Maduro is a fugitive from {ts:233} American justice and the head of the {ts:237} foreign terrorist organization cartel de loles. Maduro's ability to {ts:245} sell Venezuela's oil enables his... {ts:248} fraudulent claim to power and his narco terrorist activities. The people of {ts:255} Venezuela frankly deserve better. {ts:260} These people who have suffered under Maduro's socialist dictatorship. {ts:267} As warships patrol Caribbean waters and... {ts:269} rhetoric hardens on both sides, the region now finds itself at the center of {ts:274} a highstake standoff. A modern tale of {ts:277} David and Goliath with the next strike still unknown. {ts:282}... {ts:334} happening around you in your first language. {ts:339} First post.

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