In what appears to be a carefully calibrated show of force, the U.S deployed the aircraft carrier USS Nimitz and its accompanying strike group into Caribbean waters this week, a move that coincided with the unsealing of murder charges against former Cuban leader Raúl Castro on Wednesday and an intensifying pressure campaign by the Trump administration against Havana.
Archiv: Caribbean / Karibik
US Carries Out Fifth Boat Strike in Under a Week, Bringing Death Toll to 177
(April 16, 2026)
As with the 50 previous attacks on boats in the Pacific and the Caribbean Sea, the military did not publicize any evidence that the boat was carrying drugs or that its passengers were “narco-terrorists.”
OAS Permanent Council to Consider Recent Events in Venezuela
The Permanent Council of the Organization of American States (OAS) will hold a special meeting on Tuesday, January 6 at 10:00 EST (15:00 GMT) in the Simón Bolivar room at OAS headquarters, “to consider recent events in the Bolivarian Republic of Venezuela.”
Please consult the agenda of the meeting here. Note that changes to the agenda may yet be made before the meeting.
The meeting will be broadcast live – with interpretation in Spanish, English, French and Portuguese- on the OAS Website and the OAS Facebook page
UN Security Council to meet Monday over US action in Venezuela
(January 3, 2026)
Colombia, backed by Russia and China, requested the meeting of the 15-member council, diplomats said. The U.N. Security Council has met twice – in October and December – over the escalating tensions between the United States and Venezuela.
Colombia calls for emergency UN, OAS meetings after US air strikes in Venezuela
(January 3, 2026)
Colombia’s President Gustavo Petro called for emergency meets of the United Nations (UN) and the Organization of American States (OAS) after the United States apparently carried out air strikes in Venezuela.
In a series of posts on social media platform X, Petro said “they have attacked Venezuela.”
5 Alarming Reasons Vucic Denounces Collapse of International Legal Order After U.S. Attack on Venezuela
Speaking after an emergency session of Serbia’s National Security Council on Sunday, President Aleksandar Vučić delivered a stark assessment of the current global system: “The international legal order and the UN Charter no longer function at all.”
This blunt declaration marks a significant shift in Serbia’s diplomatic rhetoric and reflects growing disillusionment among non-aligned and Global South nations with the efficacy of multilateral institutions. Vučić argued that the Venezuela operation—justified by Washington as a “counter-narcotics mission”—exposes a brutal reality: “In today’s world, the only rule is the law of the strongest.” He added, “Whoever is stronger exerts pressure—that is the only principle of contemporary politics.”
EU verurteilt Angriff der USA auf Venezuela nicht
Brüssel/Caracas/Washington. Der EU-Außenbeauftragte Katja Kallas hat nach dem Angriff der USA und der Entführung von Venezuelas Präsident Nicolás Maduro zur „Zurückhaltung“ aufgerufen. Die Oberste Repräsentantin der EU betonte, dass die EU wiederholt erklärt habe, Maduro fehle die Legitimität, und er setze sich für einen friedlichen Machtwechsel ein.
Cuba denounces attack on Venezuela as an act of state terrorism
“This is not about fighting narco-terrorism, as they falsely claim, but about destroying a project of integration and resistance that was born with Commander Hugo Chávez,” he asserted.
The Cuban president categorically rejected the Monroe Doctrine and any extraterritorial claims over Latin American territory, while demanding that the United States provide immediate proof of life for Nicolás Maduro and his wife.
Diaz-Canel also compared the action to the crimes against humanity committed by Israeli Zionism in Gaza, emphasizing its illegal, immoral, and international law violations.
“This is not just an attack against Venezuela; it is a threat against all of humanity,” he warned, and called on the international community to mobilize unequivocally against the advance of modern fascism, disguised as foreign policy.
Cuba, he reaffirmed, is prepared to defend, “with its own blood if necessary, the independence of Our America.”
Nicaragua Demands the Release of Venezuela’s Constitutional President Nicolás Maduro
(January 3, 2026)
The government of Nicaragua, co-chaired by Daniel Ortega and his wife Rosario Murillo, demanded this Saturday respect for the sovereignty of Venezuela and the release of the president Nicolás Maduro, who was kidnapped this morning in Caracas by US imperialist forces.
In a pronouncement, under the title ‘Nicaragua for truth, peace, justice and life’, the Nicaraguan government called for “respect for the sovereignty of the people of Venezuela,” and “joined the clamor of the entire world, which from a deep rejection affirms that we will continue fighting for international law and sovereignties to prevail.”
Spain joins with Latin America to criticise Venezuela military intervention
Spain, along with Brazil, Chile, Colombia, Mexico, and Uruguay, issued a joint statement on Sunday condemning unilateral military actions in Venezuela and calling for a political solution led by Venezuelans.
“We express our concern regarding any attempt at governmental control, administration, or external appropriation of natural or strategic resources, which is incompatible with international law and threatens the political, economic, and social stability of the region,” reads the press release.
Spain, Brazil, Chile, Colombia, Mexico and Uruguay condemn ‚dangerous precedent‘ set by US attack on Venezuela
The statement reads:
„We express our profound concern and rejection of the military actions carried out unilaterally on Venezuelan territory, which contravene fundamental principles of international law, particularly the prohibition of the use and threat of force, and respect for the sovereignty and territorial integrity of States, enshrined in the Charter of the United Nations. These actions constitute an extremely dangerous precedent for peace and regional security and put the civilian population at risk.
We reiterate that the situation in Venezuela must be resolved exclusively through peaceful means, by means of dialogue, negotiation, and respect for the will of the Venezuelan people in all its expressions, without external interference and in accordance with international law. We reaffirm that only an inclusive political process, led by Venezuelans, can lead to a democratic and sustainable solution that respects human dignity.
We reaffirm the character of Latin America and the Caribbean as a zone of peace, built on mutual respect, the peaceful settlement of disputes, and non-intervention, and we call for regional unity, beyond political differences, in the face of any action that jeopardises regional stability. We also urge the Secretary-General of the United Nations and the Member States of the relevant multilateral mechanisms to use their good offices to contribute to de-escalating tensions and preserving regional peace.
We express our concern regarding any attempt at government control, administration, or external appropriation of natural or strategic resources, which is incompatible with international law and threatens the political, economic, and social stability of the region.
Brazil, Chile, Colombia, Mexico, Uruguay reject outside ‘control’
Brazil, Chile, Colombia, Mexico, and Uruguay in a joint statement expressed their “rejection” of US forces’ ousting of Nicolas Maduro as Venezuela’s president and “concern about any attempt at governmental control or administration or outside appropriation of natural or strategic resources”.
Vice President Delcy Rodríguez demands proof of life for President Maduro after US attack
Executive Vice President Delcy Rodríguez demanded proof of life from the US government for President Nicolás Maduro and his wife, Deputy Cilia Flores, whose whereabouts are currently unknown.
In a phone call to the state channel VTV, Rodríguez demanded an “immediate proof of life” from the US government and stressed that Maduro had warned about the US aggression motivated by the US‘s energy voracity.
Venezuela president Maduro captured and flown out of country after US strikes, says Trump
Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro has been captured and flown out of Venezuela after the US carried out a large scale strike on the capital city of Caracas, US President Donald Trump announced. US Secretary of State Marco Rubio told a GOP senator that Maduro will stand trial in the US.
Trump Says U.S. Forces Have Captured Venezuela’s Maduro
The United States captured Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro early Saturday morning after a series of strikes on the South American country, U.S. President Donald Trump announced in a social media post.
Trump said on Truth Social that Maduro and his wife had been “captured and flown out of the Country” after a “large scale strike” that was executed in “conjunction with U.S. Law Enforcement.
US Imposes More Venezuela Oil Sanctions on Four Companies and Four Tankers
The US Treasury Department on Wednesday imposed sanctions on four companies and their associated oil tankers for allegedly transporting Venezuelan oil as the Trump administration seeks to escalate its pressure on the country.
The new sanctions come after the US seized two tankers off the coast of Venezuela that were carrying Venezuelan oil, cargo that President Trump has said the US intends to keep, an action that amounts to outright theft.
US military says at least eight killed in new strikes on alleged drug boats, with survivors abandoning ship
On New Year’s Eve, US Southern Command said the military struck two boats “operated by Designated Terrorist Organizations,” killing five people.
The day before, Tuesday, the US struck what it described as a “convoy” of three boats participating in the trafficking of narcotics, SOUTHCOM announced in a post to X on Wednesday. Three people aboard one boat were killed, while those in the other two abandoned their vessel.
SOUTHCOM said it notified the US Coast Guard after Tuesday’s strike to activate search and rescue efforts. It’s unclear whether any survivors have been recovered.
Tensions over Venezuela: T&T in the middle as Trump and Maduro face off
BY the time the year comes to a close on December 31, the United States would have carried out one of the largest naval deployments to the Caribbean in more than two decades, sending multiple warships, 15,000 troops and the world’s largest aircraft carrier into waters once considered a “zone of peace”.
Accompanied by nearly 30 lethal so-called “boat strikes” that have killed at least 100 traversing the Caribbean and Pacific, the build-up sent the region’s small islands and South American countries into uncertainty, stoking fear of escalation, armed conflict and, in the case of Venezuela, the possibility of forced regime change.
Security Council Debates United States–Venezuela Standoff, as Calls Mount for Restraint
Yet, while Chile does not recognize the legitimacy of the Maduro regime, that country’s representative rejected any armed activity that could risk regional peace and stability. She also underlined the imperative of respecting international law, which, Brazil’s representative observed, includes the UN Charter’s prohibition against the threat or use of force. The United States’ activities are generating tensions in a region characterized by “stability and peaceful coexistence”, added Colombia’s representative, warning that military escalation not only heightens the risk of a broader conflict but also undermines collective efforts to prevent conflict and promote regional stability.
“History demonstrates that the threat or the use of force invariably leads to greater human suffering and the erosion of the international legal order,” observed Mexico’s representative. He underscored that, regardless of the country or region involved, “dialogue and negotiation are the only legitimate and effective ways of resolving — in the long run — existing differences”. Urging all parties to act with restraint, he added: “It is exclusively up to the Venezuelan people to determine [their country’s] political future.”
Threats to international peace and security – Security Council, 10080th meeting
Briefing on Venezuela
10080th meeting – Threats to international peace and security
10080th meeting – Threats to international peace and security
Vereinte Nationen: Venezuela-Eskalation ruft Sicherheitsrat auf den Plan
Der UN-Sicherheitsrat kommt heute zu einer Dringlichkeitssitzung zusammen, um über die Spannungen zwischen Venezuela und den USA zu beraten. Die Regierung in Caracas hatte die Sitzung mit Unterstützung Russlands und Chinas gefordert. Unterdessen wird auch die Rhetorik der US-Regierung gegenüber Venezuela immer deutlicher.
How did Jeffrey Epstein make all of his money?
(December 16, 2025)
In an emailed statement to CBS MoneyWatch in June of 2023, JPMorgan called Epstein‘s behavior „monstrous,“ and said it regretted any association with the disgraced financier.
Epstein also had financial dealings with Deutsche Bank, which in May 2023 agreed to pay $75 million to settle a lawsuit alleging the German bank „knowingly benefited“ from his sex trafficking and profited from doing business with him.
(…)
In October, Rep. Jamie Raskin, a Democrat from Maryland, pointed to $1.5 billion in suspicious financial transactions that had been flagged by the banks and were tied to Epstein‘s alleged sex trafficking crimes. The same month, Bank of America was sued by one of Epstein‘s victims, who alleged the bank facilitated and also benefited from his alleged crimes.
No justice yet for Chad Joseph after US strike
When asked whether he assessed the risk of leaving at that time given that it was one month into the repeated US strikes, she answered, “I believe so, and he took that risk.”
When Guardian Media asked her why he took that risk, she responded, “I know about the sea law; I know since I was young. If it’s a boat, whatever, you’re supposed to stop it, see. The law is not to kill people. Wherever you are, you are not to kill people like that. This is the first time in my life, and I am 51 years old; I have never heard about this kind of stuff,” she said.
On having her son labelled a narco-trafficker, she responded, “Where is the proof? If it’s drugs, where is the proof? Where is it? You understand?”
Venezuela condemns second theft of oil tanker by the US
The Venezuelan government described the action as a serious act of piracy, noting that it constitutes the commission of the crime stipulated in Article 3 of the 1988 Convention for the Suppression of Unlawful Acts against the Safety of Maritime Navigation.
He also denounced the operation as a violation of Article 2 of the Charter of the United Nations, Article 2 of the Geneva Convention on the High Seas, and the Declaration on Principles of International Law concerning Friendly Relations and Cooperation between States.
(…)
The Bolivarian Republic of Venezuela reaffirms that these acts will not go unpunished and will take all appropriate actions, including filing complaints with the United Nations Security Council, other multilateral organizations, and governments worldwide. International law will prevail, and those responsible for these grave acts will be held accountable before justice and history for their criminal conduct.
Caracas, December 20, 2025
US seizes another vessel off Venezuela as Trump administration ramps up pressure on Caracas
The US seized a large oil tanker called the Skipper, which had been under sanctions for its ties to Iran, on December 10.
While Trump’s directive this week targeted sanctioned tankers, the vessel the US seized Saturday is not under US sanctions, the official said. The seizure wasn’t contested by the tanker’s crew.
The vessel was a Panamanian-flagged tanker carrying Venezuelan oil, according to the official, and was ultimately destined for Asia.
U.S. forces intercept another oil tanker off Venezuela
– U.S. forces seize a second merchant vessel off Venezuela’s coast in less than two weeks as Trump escalates military pressure on President Nicolás Maduro over oil assets.
– Trump announced a blockade of sanctioned oil tankers and demanded Venezuela return assets seized from American oil companies, citing compensation disputes dating back decades.
– Military strikes targeting alleged drug smugglers have killed 104 people since September and face scrutiny from U.S. lawmakers for lack of evidence and civilian casualties.