Events

In a pre-dawn action early this morning on Dec. 20, the US Coast Guard with the support of the Department of War apprehended an oil tanker that was last docked in Venezuela. The United States will continue to pursue the illicit movement of sanctioned oil that is used to fund narco terrorism in the region. We will find you, and we will stop you. Thank you to our brave men

Trump formally nominates Lt. Gen. Donovan, currently the Vice Commander of SOCOM, to lead U.S. Southern Command. Reuters first reported this last week

Today, Treasury’s Office of Foreign Assets Control sanctioned several family members and associates of the Maduro-Flores family. This action further targets the narco-corruption structure that sustains Nicolás Maduro’s illegitimate regime, namely the familial networks of Carlos Erik Malpica Flores and Ramon Carretero Napolitano.

Asked if the US wants regime change in Venezuela, @SecRubio says, "Our goal is regional stability in the national interest of the US. Do we consider Maduro legitimate? - No

Southcom: On Dec. 18, at the direction of @SecWar Pete Hegseth, Joint Task Force Southern Spear conducted lethal kinetic strikes on two vessels operated by Designated Terrorist Organizations in international waters. Intelligence confirmed that the vessels were transiting along known narco-trafficking routes in the Eastern Pacific and were engaged in narco-trafficking operations. A total of five male narco-terrorists were killed during these actions - three in the first vessel and two in the second vessel. No U.S. military forces were harmed. #OpSouthernSpear

Chinese Foreign Ministry: We support Venezuela's request for an emergency meeting of the UN Security Council

Trump: Drugs brought in by ocean and by sea are now down 94%

Southcom: Il 17 dicembre, sotto la direzione del @SecWar Pete Hegseth, la Joint Task Force Southern Spear ha condotto un attacco cinetico letale su un'imbarcazione gestita da un'organizzazione terroristica designata in acque internazionali. L'intelligence ha confermato che l'imbarcazione stava transitando lungo una nota rotta del narcotraffico nel Pacifico orientale ed era impegnata in operazioni di narcotraffico. In totale, quattro uomini narcoterroristi sono stati uccisi e nessun militare statunitense è rimasto ferito.

Venezuela on Wednesday requested that the United Nations Security Council meet to discuss "ongoing U.S. aggression" against the country, according to a letter to the 15-member body seen by Reuters. A U.N. diplomat said a meeting would likely be scheduled for Tuesday

Today, the U.S. Treasury's Office of Foreign Assets Control sanctioned the Cartel de Santa Rosa de Lima, a Mexican cartel. Treasury also sanctioned CSRL's leader, José Antonio Yepez Ortiz. According to the Treasury, most of CSRL's illicit revenue comes from fuel and oil theft

US military aircraft maintain patrols off the Venezuelan coast for the second consecutive day

Trinidad and Tobago asserts that it is not involved in the US blockade of Venezuela.

Venezuelan Defense Minister Vladimir Padrino López affirms that the Venezuelan Armed Forces will preserve the country's territorial integrity "at all costs".

The United States is imposing a blockade on sanctioned and threatened tankers bound for or leaving Venezuela - @realDonaldTrump

Caribbean Sea: Several @USNavy assets up; with 5x F/A-18s and an E-2 showing

White House: President Donald J. Trump's address to the Nation tomorrow night at 9 pm EST

South Command: On Dec. 15, at the direction of @SecWar Pete Hegseth, Joint Task Force Southern Spear conducted lethal kinetic strikes on three vessels operated by Designated Terrorist Organizations in international waters. Intelligence confirmed that the vessels were transiting along known narco-trafficking routes in the Eastern Pacific and were engaged in narco-trafficking. A total of eight male narco-militants were killed during these actions—three in the first vessel, two in the second and three in the third

Fentanyl will be classified as a weapon of mass destruction via an EO today, Trump says

The Colombian National Liberation Army (ELN), which controls cocaine-producing regions, announced a three-day curfew in these areas in response to Trump's threats.

Putin ha parlato telefonicamente con il presidente venezuelano Maduro, con cui ha scambiato opinioni sull'ulteriore sviluppo delle relazioni amichevoli tra Russia e Venezuela, in linea con l'accordo di partenariato e cooperazione strategico entrato in vigore nel novembre 2025. Putin ha espresso solidarietà al popolo venezuelano e ha ribadito il suo sostegno alla politica del governo Maduro volta a proteggere gli interessi e la sovranità nazionale di fronte alle crescenti pressioni esterne.

Trump about Colombian President Petro: "Colombia is producing a lot of drugs. He better wise up or he'll be next. I hope he's listening, he's going to be next. We don't like people when they kill people”

2 US Navy F-18 jets are currently circling between Punto Fijo and Maracaibo nVenezuela

Israeli army: After a chase and under the direction of a joint task force of the security agencies: a weapons smuggling ring was foiled on the Egyptian border by means of a drone. At the end of the chase, six suspects were arrested with their vehicles, and 21 kilograms of drugs were seized. They are also suspected of smuggling weapons. The suspects were transferred to the Israel Police for further processing.

The Trump administration is quietly preparing “day-after” plans for a post-Maduro scenario, per senior officials. The options outline possible U.S. actions to manage a power vacuum and stabilize Venezuela, whether Maduro leaves in a negotiated deal or is forced out after U.S. strikes - CNN

Kaja Kallas, EU High Representative: "For us, it is also important to maintain a presence on the ground. We are in contact with representatives of the opposition and we also support the fight against transnational organized crime."

The European Union's top representative asserts that Maduro lacks legitimacy and calls for respect for international law.

Politico: Trump does not rule out sending US troops to Venezuela

Politico: Trump may expand military anti-drug operations to include Mexico and Colombia

Federal and state forces arrested Emilio Alejandro El H and/or El Danone, the CJNG plaza boss in Tulum and Playa del Carmen

On Dec. 4, at the direction of @SecWar Pete Hegseth, Joint Task Force Southern Spear conducted a lethal kinetic strike on a vessel in international waters operated by a Designated Terrorist Organization. Intelligence confirmed that the vessel was carrying illicit narcotics and transiting along a known narco-trafficking route in the Eastern Pacific. Four male narco-militants aboard the vessel were killed