Venezuela Military Campaign and Maduro Capture

Trump's special envoy Richard Grenell flew to Venezuela to meet with President Nicolás Maduro, prompting speculation about a potential rapprochement between Washington and Caracas after years of tensions and sanctions.

Venezuela released six U.S. detainees following a meeting between a Trump envoy and President Maduro. The release marks a diplomatic development in the Trump administration's approach to Venezuela.

Trump appeared to be revoking a license previously granted by the Biden administration to Chevron to operate in Venezuela, potentially hurting the company and the Venezuelan economy.

Trump announced that the U.S. conducted a 'kinetic strike' in international waters against a boat from Venezuela, killing 11 people, amid escalating U.S.-Caracas tensions. Venezuelan President Maduro responded by warning that war would 'stain your hands with blood.'

Trump sent 10 stealth fighter planes to Puerto Rico as part of a military response to counter Caribbean drug cartels, following U.S. accusations that Venezuela conducted a hostile act against a U.S. warship and after a deadly U.S. missile strike in the Caribbean.

President Trump stated that Venezuelan military jets will be shot down if they endanger U.S. ships, escalating tensions with Venezuela. The warning comes as part of Trump's broader confrontational approach to regional foreign policy.

Republican Senator Rand Paul condemned Vice President JD Vance's defense of a U.S. airstrike on a Venezuelan boat allegedly containing drug traffickers, calling Vance's comments "despicable" and "thoughtless."

Trump announced a second U.S. military strike on a Venezuelan boat allegedly carrying drug traffickers, reportedly killing three people. Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro condemned the action as 'a heinous crime' and accused the Trump administration of trying to start a war in the Caribbean.

Trump announced that the U.S. military carried out a third fatal strike on an alleged drug-smuggling boat in the Caribbean, killing three people. The strikes, according to military and analyst assessments, may be part of a broader campaign targeting Venezuela beyond drug interdiction.

The Trump administration targeted Stephen Miller's homeland security council in coordinating operations against alleged Venezuelan drug boats, with Miller playing a leading role in strikes on these vessels.

The Trump administration determined that the U.S. is at war with drug cartels, with a notice classifying people recently killed by U.S. military operations in the Caribbean Sea as 'unlawful combatants.' Congress was briefed on the determination.

The Trump administration claimed the United States is in 'armed conflict' with drug cartels to justify recent military strikes on alleged Venezuelan drug boats. Pentagon chief Hegseth reported that a recent strike killed four people on a boat allegedly carrying 'substantial amounts' of drugs.

Trump announced that the U.S. struck another alleged drug boat off the Venezuela coast, saying the administration would focus on land-based drug trafficking. The statement was made during a Navy ceremony.

Trump called off diplomatic outreach to Venezuela, paving the way for possible military escalation against drug traffickers or the government of Nicolás Maduro. The move represents a reversal of previous diplomatic efforts with the Latin American nation.

The Nobel Peace Prize was awarded to Venezuelan opposition politician María Corina Machado for her work promoting democratic rights in Venezuela, not to President Trump. The White House criticized the decision as 'politics over peace,' while Trump had reportedly conducted a campaign to influence the prize committee.

Trump administration military strikes on boats off Venezuela that the president says are drug smugglers have unsettled Mexico, America's biggest trading partner, which is concerned about potential escalation against criminal groups operating in the region.

Trump said the U.S. military killed six people in a strike on a boat allegedly carrying drugs near Venezuela, the fifth such Caribbean strike. The UN has condemned these operations as extrajudicial executions.

The Trump administration authorized covert CIA action in Venezuela and the U.S. military drew up options for possible strikes inside the country as the administration considered new measures toward the Nicolás Maduro government.

Trump revealed he authorized covert CIA operations in Venezuela, marking an escalation in pressure against President Nicolás Maduro. The administration is also mulling military strikes on Venezuelan territory as Maduro condemned the move as "coups d'état."

Trump claimed that Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro is willing to give 'everything' to ease tensions with the United States, stating in colorful language that Maduro 'doesn't want to fuck around with the United States.' The statement came during discussions about potential U.S. military operations in the region.

Trump announced that two survivors of a U.S. strike on a submarine would be sent to Ecuador and Colombia, reportedly as a move to avoid legal complications. These individuals were reportedly linked to a drug-trafficking vessel.

Trump called Colombia's President Gustavo Petro an "illegal drug dealer" and vowed to cut U.S. funding and impose new tariffs on Colombian imports after Petro accused the U.S. of killing a fisherman in a Caribbean strike. The U.S. military said it struck a vessel suspected of smuggling drugs for Colombian rebels, killing three people.

Colombia recalled its U.S. ambassador amid tensions with Trump over alleged American strikes on suspected drug trafficking boats. The dispute raises concerns about the future of counter-narcotics cooperation between the two nations.

Trump said he planned to conduct military strikes against alleged drug traffickers from Venezuela, including potential land operations. The president indicated he would not seek Congressional authorization, telling lawmakers he could not 'imagine they'd have any problem with it.'

The Pentagon deployed the USS Gerald Ford aircraft carrier to the Caribbean as Trump escalates military operations against alleged drug cartels. A US airstrike killed six people described as narco-terrorists in the Caribbean region.

The Pentagon announced it is deploying the USS Gerald Ford aircraft carrier and other warships to the Caribbean coast of Venezuela. Trump reportedly is focused on Venezuelan oil while national security adviser Marco Rubio has pushed for a tougher approach to the regime.

The U.S. Treasury placed sanctions on Colombian president Gustavo Petro, accusing him of 'allowing drug cartels to flourish' as president. Petro responded by attacking Trump's 'oppressive regime.'

Republican Senator Rand Paul called Trump's military airstrikes 'extrajudicial killings,' with his comments coming days after the president claimed US lawmakers would not object to Venezuelan strikes.

Trump's military pressure on Maduro in Venezuela and CIA actions against the government have drawn comparisons to Latin America's historical pattern of coups and assassinations.

Trump stated he doubts the US will go to war with Venezuela and that while Nicolás Maduro's 'days are numbered,' military intervention is unlikely. The remarks follow reports that the US has amassed military units in the Caribbean.

Trump is weighing military and economic options regarding Venezuela, with advisers pressing for objectives ranging from attacking drug cartels to seizing oil fields as justifications for ousting President Nicolás Maduro.

Senate Democrats failed to block military action against Venezuela, with a resolution failing 49-51 as the Trump administration increases military buildup in the region. Only two Republican senators voted in favor of the measure to check presidential power.

U.S. military strikes in Latin America killed approximately 70 people across alleged drug operations, destroying at least 18 vessels. Washington has yet to publicly provide concrete evidence that its targets posed a threat to America.

Defense Secretary Hegseth claimed that six people were killed in two new U.S. attacks on alleged drug boats in the eastern Pacific, describing the dead as 'narco-terrorists,' though no evidence was provided.

The Pentagon's largest warship, the USS Gerald R. Ford, entered Latin American waters amid rising U.S.-Venezuela tensions, marking the largest U.S. military presence in the region since the 1989 Panama invasion. The deployment comes as the Trump administration has taken lethal action against drug vessels in the Caribbean.

The United Kingdom paused intelligence-sharing with the United States on suspected drug vessels in the Caribbean, marking a rare rupture between the military allies due to concerns over the Trump administration's lethal sinking of boats. This represents a significant breakdown in intelligence cooperation between longtime partners.

Trump deployed the world's largest aircraft carrier to the Caribbean amid escalating tensions with Venezuela. Military experts suggest action may be 'imminent,' though others believe it is a negotiating tactic, while the Trump administration claims the buildup is necessary to stem drug trafficking to the US.

Defense Secretary Hegseth announced a military operation targeting alleged drug smuggling vessels in the Caribbean, described as an effort to remove 'narco-terrorists' from the hemisphere. The operation has strained UK-US intelligence cooperation.

Trump is welcoming Saudi Crown Prince with an arrival ceremony and deal signings. The visit comes as Venezuela's President Maduro urged Trump to avoid an Afghanistan-style 'forever war' amid military buildup in the region.

The Trump administration placed an aircraft carrier in the Caribbean and announced it would designate a Venezuelan group as a foreign terrorist organization, escalating pressure on President Nicolás Maduro's government. Experts believe the decision is designed to pressure Venezuela's leader into stepping down.

Trump declined to rule out sending U.S. troops to Venezuela, stating the country must be 'taken care of' as the U.S. builds a military force in the Caribbean. Mexican President Claudia Sheinbaum rejected Trump's earlier threat to authorize strikes against drug cartels on Mexican soil.

Trump's Justice Department is investigating unfounded claims that Venezuela helped steal the 2020 election, according to an exclusive report. The discredited conspiracy theory could potentially strengthen arguments for military action against the Maduro regime.

A top US military officer was set to visit the Caribbean as President Trump applied pressure on Venezuela, with reports indicating Trump approved plans for covert action in the country.

President Trump suggested that Venezuela rigged the 2020 U.S. election, implying his Venezuela policy may be based on an unfounded election-rigging conspiracy theory rather than contemporary geopolitical concerns.

The Trump administration designated a Venezuelan group known as the 'Cartel of the Suns' as a terrorist organization, despite doubts over its existence. Venezuela accused the U.S. of using terrorism allegations to justify regime change.

U.S. military pressure against Venezuela, framed as a 'war on drugs,' has resulted in 83 deaths that the UN has called extrajudicial executions, according to a Guardian investigation of the military buildup and airstrikes in the Caribbean.

The Trump administration's Justice Department memo about boat strikes in the Caribbean frames them as self-defense against violence without naming an aggressor, diverging from Trump's public claim that they are intended to stop U.S. overdose deaths.

Trump threatens Venezuela's President Maduro with 'the easy way or the hard way' amid military buildup in the Caribbean. Maduro responded by vowing to defend 'every inch' of the country.

Trump spoke by phone last week with Nicolas Maduro, the president of Venezuela, to discuss a possible meeting between the two, though nothing has been scheduled. The administration continues to increase military pressure on Venezuela.

Trump declared Venezuelan airspace closed in a social media post, following an earlier FAA warning to airlines about a worsening security situation. The declaration came days after Trump suggested the United States could expand its campaign of killing suspected drug traffickers at sea to attacking Venezuelan territory.

Venezuela suspended all deportation flights and responded defiantly to Trump's comments about closing airspace above the country, stating it does not accept foreign orders or threats.

Top Republicans and Democrats demanded answers about an escalating military campaign the Trump administration says is aimed at targeting drug traffickers, with some lawmakers suggesting a follow-up boat strike could constitute a war crime.

Trump reportedly gave Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro an ultimatum to relinquish power, according to sources familiar with the communication. The message was described as 'blunt' by those cited.

Trump moved to pardon Juan Orlando Hernández, Honduras's former president, despite Hernández being convicted on drug trafficking charges. Critics argue this contradicts Trump's administration's anti-drug efforts.

Trump threatened imminent military strikes against Venezuela and any country he claims manufactures drugs for the United States market. The threats signal escalating US-Venezuela tensions, with Trump reportedly delivering an ultimatum to President Nicolás Maduro to leave power immediately.

The family of Alejandro Carranza Medina, a Colombian citizen, filed the first formal complaint alleging he was illegally killed in a US airstrike on September 15 targeting suspected drug boats in the Caribbean.

Trump announced he is planning military strikes on alleged drug traffickers in other countries "very soon." Colombia's President Gustavo Petro warned Trump not to "wake the jaguar" with threats of military strikes on Colombian soil, while Republicans in Congress also scrutinized the administration over recent strikes on boats allegedly linked to drug trafficking from Venezuela.

The family of Alejandro Carranza Medina filed a complaint alleging "extrajudicial killing" following Trump administration airstrikes on alleged drug boats. Medina's relatives claim he was a fisherman, not a drug trafficker, and that he was killed in the strikes.

Trump officials stated that a second strike on an alleged drug boat near Venezuela was aimed at destroying the vessel rather than killing its crew, citing a secret memo that provides legal justification for firing on boats even if it would kill people on board.

Video evidence reviewed by U.S. senators shows two unarmed men clinging to boat wreckage for approximately an hour before a second U.S. airstrike killed them. The incident has raised questions about the legality of the strikes and potential war crimes, with Congress focusing scrutiny on the administration's use of force.

Two U.S. fighter jets circled the Gulf of Venezuela as part of an escalating military campaign against President Nicolás Maduro. Trump stated that Maduro's 'days are numbered' as the military targeted alleged drug boats in the region.

Trump announced he would make a phone call to end hostilities between Thailand and Cambodia after a ceasefire deal he had previously brokered collapsed. The announcement was made during a rally in Pennsylvania.

US forces seized a Venezuelan oil tanker (the Skipper) carrying approximately 1.1 million barrels of oil in what Venezuela called an 'act of international piracy,' marking a major escalation in Trump's pressure campaign against Nicolás Maduro's government.

Trump told Colombian President Gustavo Petro he 'will be next' as the administration escalated military pressure on the Venezuelan government, while US lawmakers expressed concern about the administration 'sleepwalking into a war' in the Caribbean.

US House passed the 2026 National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA) authorizing $900 billion for military programs with $8 billion more than Trump requested, and including demands for information about boat strikes in the Caribbean.

Trump expanded sanctions on Venezuela, adding six oil supertankers and members of Nicolas Maduro's extended family to the sanctions list. The action followed the U.S. seizure of a dark fleet tanker and continued escalation of pressure on the Maduro government.

Venezuela's oil exports reportedly fell sharply after the U.S. seized the tanker Skipper, marking the first U.S. capture of Venezuelan oil cargo since sanctions were imposed in 2019.

Cuba has denounced the U.S. seizure of the Skipper oil tanker off Venezuela's coast as an act of 'maritime terrorism,' escalating tensions in the region.

President Trump ordered a blockade of sanctioned oil tankers entering and leaving Venezuela, marking an escalation of military and economic pressure against the Maduro government. Trump stated the U.S. armada "will only get bigger" until Venezuela returns what he claims are "all of the oil, land, and other assets that they previously stole from us." The Venezuelan government condemned the move as a "grotesque threat," while Mexican President Sheinbaum urged the UN to "prevent bloodshed."

The U.S. military announced it carried out a lethal strike on a vessel in the Pacific, killing four, during operations in international waters. The announcement came as Trump addressed the nation and a day after he ordered a blockade of all sanctioned oil tankers entering and leaving Venezuela.

Trump and top aides refused to rule out military action against Venezuela, with President Nicolás Maduro ordering the Venezuelan navy to escort oil tankers after seizure by U.S. forces. The statements escalated tensions in the region over disputed maritime boundaries and oil assets.

The U.S. intercepted a second merchant vessel off the coast of Venezuela in international waters; the vessel does not appear on the U.S. sanctions list, marking a potential escalation in the blockade.

The U.S. Coast Guard pursued an oil tanker linked to Venezuela that was sending distress signals as it headed from the Caribbean into the Atlantic, part of continued U.S. pressure on Venezuela.

The U.S. Coast Guard pursued an oil tanker off the coast of Venezuela subject to sanctions, as part of Trump's stated 'blockade' of sanctioned vessels. Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem indicated the seizures are intended to force Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro from power.

Trump's administration implemented tanker crackdowns that have severely disrupted Venezuelan oil exports, a vital source of revenue for the country. The U.S. took action against three ships used to transport crude oil, causing exports to plummet as Russia and China pledged support for Venezuela's Maduro government.

The Trump administration has seized oil tankers near Venezuela and made claims to Venezuelan oil resources, actions that legal experts say may set precedents for other countries to seize foreign vessels and challenge maritime rules. Critics compare the offensive to Iraq war tactics involving regime-change rhetoric and oil interests.

Trump claimed the U.S. struck a 'big facility' in Venezuela in what would be the administration's first reported land strike on the country if confirmed. The administration provided no details about the alleged attack, which Trump said was related to efforts to disrupt drug trafficking from Latin America.

The Trump administration conducted a CIA drone strike on a port facility in Venezuela, reported to be used for drug trafficking operations. This represents the first known U.S. military operation inside Venezuelan territory and signals escalation in the campaign against Nicolás Maduro's government.

The number of American citizens detained in Venezuela has increased amid growing U.S. military and economic pressure against President Nicolás Maduro's government.

Venezuela released at least 80 political prisoners, including one with U.S. ties, though rights groups report that more than 800 people remain detained for opposing President Nicolás Maduro's rule.

Venezuelan President Maduro urged Trump to abandon 'illegal warmongering' and start 'serious talks,' warning of a 'forever war' similar to Iraq after Trump claimed the US conducted a first land strike on a dock.

President Trump announced that US forces have captured Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro and his wife, calling the operation 'brilliant.' The Attorney General stated the couple will face criminal charges, with Maduro to be tried in New York on alleged involvement in narco-terrorism.

US military forces conducted airstrikes and a raid operation on Caracas, capturing Maduro by helicopter and transporting him to the USS Iwo Jima. Trump shared images of Maduro blindfolded and handcuffed on social media.

France, Russia, China, and the EU issued statements saying the US operation violated international law. UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer stated Britain was not involved in the attack and described the situation as fast-moving.

Trump stated that US oil companies are prepared to invest billions in rebuilding Venezuelan oil infrastructure, though the oil giants themselves remained silent on the claim. Trump emphasized taking Venezuelan oil as central to his Venezuela policy.

Republicans celebrated the capture of Maduro, while Democrats condemned the operation as unjustified and warned it risks pulling the US into another war. New York Mayor Zohran Mamdani called Trump to criticize the strikes as violating international law.

The Trump administration conducted a military operation capturing Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro and his wife Cilia Flores, who were flown to New York. Trump stated the US will "run" Venezuela during a transition period, with Secretary of State Marco Rubio defending the action as necessary leverage over the country.

Democratic lawmakers criticized the Venezuela military operation as lacking congressional approval and called it "wildly illegal." By Sunday evening, Trump administration officials agreed to brief Congress on Monday after Democrats demanded information about the action taken without legislative notification.

The US military operation to capture Maduro involved at least 150 aircraft and months of surveillance, completed in approximately two and a half hours. The operation marked a significant escalation in executive military action without advance congressional notification.

Trump claims the US will reclaim Venezuelan oil that he characterizes as "stolen," though experts note the US has no legal claim to the country's natural reserves. Secretary of State Rubio announced a military "quarantine" on some oil exports to pressure Venezuela's acting leadership.

Venezuela's interim leader Delcy Rodríguez, the former vice president, faces the difficult task of accommodating US demands while maintaining a regime unpopular with many Venezuelans. US officials selected her over Nicolás Maduro's preference for a gilded exile as the new leader.

Maduro was indicted in connection with drug trafficking charges, with the indictment attempting to link him to the Tren de Aragua gang. Co-defendants include alleged gang founder Héctor Rusthenford Guerrero Flores, indicted two weeks prior.

The US conducted a military operation resulting in the capture of Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro, who is now being held in New York to face criminal charges for drugs and weapons trafficking. The operation marked a dramatic shift in US foreign policy under Trump's administration.

Venezuela's interim leader Delcy Rodríguez adopted a conciliatory tone with the US after Trump warned she could pay a 'very big price' if she failed to meet American demands. The US maintained a 15,000-strong military presence in the Caribbean as leverage.

The UN Security Council met to address the US action in Venezuela, with the US ambassador defending the capture as a 'law enforcement' action against an 'illegitimate' leader rather than an act of war. The UK indicated it would abstain on any UN vote condemning the arrest.

US energy stocks rose as Trump vowed to unlock Venezuela's oil reserves following Maduro's capture, though experts cautioned that reviving Venezuela's oil industry would require years of investment and face significant political and economic challenges.

The Trump administration conducted a military attack on Venezuela that resulted in the capture of President Nicolás Maduro, who appeared in US court and pleaded not guilty. The operation sparked global condemnation, with Brazil, China, Colombia, Cuba, Mexico, Russia, South Africa and Spain denouncing it as a 'crime of aggression' at a UN meeting.

The Trump administration conducted a military raid on Venezuela over the weekend, resulting in the capture of President Nicolás Maduro. Top Trump officials briefed 100 U.S. senators on the operation, with Democrats condemning it while Republicans defended the president's actions.

Trump claims Venezuela will supply the U.S. with $2 billion in oil and up to 50 million barrels indefinitely, with the White House indicating it will remove some sanctions to facilitate the oil supply. This move aims to cut off Venezuelan oil supplies to China and increase U.S. oil availability.

Trump stated that his power is constrained only by 'my own morality' and that he does not need international law, according to a New York Times interview. The president said morality is 'the only thing that can stop me' in discussing the limits of his authority.

Trump claimed Venezuela is cooperating fully and that the US will control its oil for years. The president stated that Venezuela's interim administration is doing 'everything that we feel is necessary' and plans to use Venezuelan crude reserves to cut US oil prices to $50 per barrel.

The Senate advanced a war powers resolution requiring Trump to seek Congressional approval before taking further military action in Venezuela. A handful of Republicans joined Democrats to allow the measure to move forward.

Thousands protested in Colombia following Trump's stated interest in military action in Colombia and his administration's intervention in Venezuela. President Gustavo Petro called for demonstrations after Trump's comments.

Trump claims he has cancelled a second wave of attacks on Venezuela and maintains a large naval presence in the region. The statement came during discussions with oil company executives about investment opportunities in Venezuela's oil industry.

Trump told oil company executives that he could guarantee 'total safety' for their investments in Venezuela and urged them to invest billions in the country's oil industry, despite acknowledging Venezuela is currently 'uninvestable.'

In an interview with the New York Times, Trump stated that his own morality is 'the only thing that can stop me,' reflecting on his approach to foreign policy decisions regarding Venezuela, Taiwan's security, and Greenland.

Trump met with oil executives and urged them to accelerate extraction operations in Venezuela, stating the U.S. would be 'extracting numbers in terms of oil like few people have seen.' The U.S. also seized another tanker carrying Venezuelan oil.

President Trump threatened Cuba to 'make a deal' or face consequences, stating that no Venezuelan oil or money will flow to the island after Nicolás Maduro's fall. Cuba's president responded with defiance to the ultimatum.

The U.S. State Department urged American citizens to flee Venezuela amid reports of armed 'colectivos' setting up roadblocks and searching vehicles for Americans. The advisory came amid broader U.S. involvement in the region following Nicolás Maduro's fall.

The US military seized a Venezuelan oil tanker, the Veronica, in a pre-dawn operation conducted by the US Coast Guard. The seizure took place under Trump administration sanctions against Venezuela.

Trump announced plans to discuss Venezuela's political future with opposition leader María Corina Machado following the capture of President Nicolás Maduro. Machado, a Nobel Prize winner, had previously been sidelined by the White House.

Venezuelan opposition leader María Corina Machado presented her Nobel Peace Prize medal to Trump during a White House meeting, which Trump claimed was awarded for 'the work I have done.' Norwegian politicians criticized the action as 'absurd,' and Nobel officials clarified that Trump is not recognized as the prize laureate.

Trump administration officials met with Venezuelan officials from the Maduro successor regime while María Corina Machado, the opposition leader, vowed to become Venezuela's president. The meetings suggested Trump backs the incumbent regime over the opposition.

The US military seized another Venezuelan oil tanker in the Caribbean Sea, marking the seventh apprehension in Trump's campaign to control Venezuela's oil flows. The action is part of escalating pressure on the Venezuelan government.

Catholic cardinals issued a warning that Trump's foreign policy poses risks to global peace and human dignity, citing threats to Greenland, actions against Venezuela, and cuts to aid programs.

Secretary of State Marco Rubio declined to rule out further U.S. military action in Venezuela at a Senate hearing, saying the administration does not intend such action but Trump reserves the option. Iraq's nominated prime minister rejected Trump's threats to cut U.S. support if the nomination proceeds.

Trump ordered the immediate reopening of commercial airspace over Venezuela, allowing direct flights from the US to the country. The move comes as major oil companies are already on the ground assessing potential operations.

President Trump has asserted a U.S. claim to seize oil from Venezuela, breaking with long-standing American diplomatic practice of not openly attempting to control foreign countries' natural resources.

US military strikes on an alleged drug boat in the Caribbean resulted in 133 deaths, marking the second such strike in a week and the first Caribbean operation since November, with most recent strikes occurring in the Pacific.

Trump administration policies on military operations killed 11 people in strikes on alleged drug boats in the eastern Pacific and Caribbean as part of the pursuit of alleged 'narco-terrorists.'

The U.S. Department of Energy announced it seized 13.5 kilograms of enriched uranium from a reactor in Caracas, Venezuela. The seizure represents a fraction of the 408 kilograms of uranium held by Iran.

The Trump administration moved toward indicting former Cuban leader Raúl Castro, escalating U.S. pressure on Cuba amid an ongoing fuel crisis. The action echoes the prior indictment of Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro.

Trump announced that a Tren de Aragua gang leader, Hector Rusthenford Guerrero Flores (also known as Niño Guerrero), was killed in a 'swift and lethal' joint military strike conducted with assistance from Venezuelan authorities.

The Trump administration's gutting of USAID following the overthrow of Venezuela's President Maduro in January is now hampering disaster response efforts to Venezuelan earthquakes, forcing Secretary of State Marco Rubio to scramble for effective humanitarian coordination.