Bûyerên

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: Di 17ê Kanûnê de, bi fermana @SecWar Pete Hegseth, Hêza Peywirê ya Hevbeş a Southern Spear li ser keştiyek ku ji hêla Rêxistinek Terorîst a Diyarkirî ve di avên navneteweyî de tê xebitandin, êrîşek kînetîk a kujer pêk anî. Îstîxbaratê piştrast kir ku keştiy li ser rêyek bazirganiya narkotîkê ya naskirî li Rojhilatê Pasîfîkê derbas dibû û di operasyonên bazirganiya narkotîkê de mijûl bû. Bi tevahî çar terorîstên narkotîkê yên mêr hatin kuştin, û ti zirar negihîşt hêzên leşkerî yên Amerîkî.

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 bi rêya telefonê bi Serokê Venezuelayê Maduro re axivî, li wir wan li ser pêşxistina têkiliyên dostane yên Rûsya-Venezuelayê li gorî peymana hevkarî û hevkariya stratejîk a ku di Mijdara 2025an de ket meriyetê, nerînên xwe parve kirin. Putin hevgirtina xwe bi gelê Venezuelayê re anî ziman û piştgiriya xwe ji bo siyaseta hikûmeta Maduro ya ku armanc dike berjewendî û serweriya neteweyî li hember zexta derveyî ya zêde bibe, ji nû ve destnîşan kir.

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

Trinidad and Tobago’s Prime Minister Kamla Persad-Bissessar on Wednesday said a radar system installed by the US military on Tobago island is aimed at detecting crude tankers violating US sanctions on Venezuelan oil. Besides oil tankers, Persad-Bissessar said that the radar will detect traffickers delivering narcotics, firearms, ammunition and migrants into Trinidad and Tobago from Venezuela, according to a statement from the Prime Minister’s office