Trump’s Invasion of Venezuela Will Make Afghanistan Look Like ‘Child’s Play’ | Malcolm Nance

Dec 11, 2025 | “The US does not do well against people that fight in flip-flops.”

Trump is “making up” his own definitions to justify his Venezuela policy which is headed forwards a ground war that will make “Afghanistan look like child’s play,” says former US navy intelligence officer Malcolm Nance.

The Nobel Peace Prize has been turned into a worthless joke! — © Mark Alexander

Nicolás Maduro Blasts the US…

… for its criminality and piracy against Venezuela.

Trump Expands Venezuela Sanctions as Maduro Decries New ‘Era of Piracy’

THE GUARDIAN: Six more oil supertankers added to sanctions list, as well as members of Maduro’s extended family, amid rising tensions following tanker seizure

Donald Trump has exerted more pressure on Venezuela’s president Nicolás Maduro, expanding sanctions and issuing fresh threats to strike land targets in Venezuela, as the South American dictator accused the US president of ushering in a new “era of criminal naval piracy” in the Caribbean.

Late on Thursday, the US imposed curbs on three nephews of Maduro’s wife, Cilia Flores, as well as six crude oil supertankers and the shipping companies linked to them. The treasury department alleged the vessels “engaged in deceptive and unsafe shipping practices and continue to provide financial resources that fuel Maduro’s corrupt narco-terrorist regime”.

The targeted vessels recently loaded crude oil in Venezuela, according to state oil company PDVSA’s internal shipping documents. Four of the tankers are Panama-flagged, with the other two flagged by the Cook Islands and Hong Kong.

In comments on Thursday night, Trump also repeated his threat to soon begin strikes on suspected narcotics shipments making their way via land from Venezuela to the US.

The comments come after the US seized a “dark fleet” tanker named the Skipper off the coast of Venezuela, sparking concerns among some US lawmakers that Trump is “sleepwalking us into a war with Venezuela”. » | Andrew Roth in Washington and Tom Phillips in Rio de Janeiro | Friday, December 12, 2025

Schiff Calls Out Venezuela Tanker Seizure as Latest Escalation towards War

Dec 11, 2025

Republicans lack the spunk to stop this war. Trump is a warmonger. — © Mark Alexander

Venezuela: Vladimir Poutine apporte son « soutien » à Nicolás Maduro

LE FIGARO : Alors que les États-Unis viennent de saisir un pétrolier au large du Venezuela, le président russe « a confirmé son soutien à la politique du gouvernement de Nicolás Maduro visant à protéger ses intérêts nationaux et sa souveraineté ».

Après la saisie par les États-Unis d’un pétrolier au large du Venezuela, Vladimir Poutine a apporté son « soutien » à son homologue vénézuélien Nicolás Maduro dans un échange téléphonique jeudi 11 décembre. Le président russe « a exprimé sa solidarité avec le peuple vénézuélien et a confirmé son soutien à la politique du gouvernement de Nicolás Maduro visant à protéger ses intérêts nationaux et sa souveraineté dans un contexte de pressions extérieures croissantes », a écrit le Kremlin dans un communiqué relatant cette conversation, sans mentionner directement les États-Unis. » | Par Le Figaro avec AFP | jeudi 11 décembre 2025

Trump's Land Strikes on Venezuela Will Begin ‘Very Soon’ | David Charter

Dec 7, 2025 | “That’s inching towards what looks like a potential regime change.”

Trump’s plans to launch land strikes in Venezuela and shows a “full press” to change the country’s regime, says The Times's assistant US editor David Charter.



It's such a pity that Maduro can't depose Trump! The world would be a much better, safer place. — © Mark Alexander

Venezuela : Maduro danse en défiant les menaces d’intervention américaine

LE FIGARO : VIDÉO - Le président vénézuélien Nicolas Maduro a promis lundi de rester «pour toujours au service du peuple», alors qu’il rassemble ses partisans à Caracas dans une démonstration de force pour son mouvement socialiste.

Danser pour oublier. Alors que les menaces d’intervention américaine s’intensifient sur son pays, le président vénézuélien a rassemblé ses partisans à Caracas et assuré qu’il ne se laisserait pas intimider. Nicolas Maduro semblait imperturbable sur scène lundi 1er décembre en dansant sur un remix de ses propres slogans pacifistes.

Le morceau électronique, intitulé «Paz si, guerro no» (La paix oui, la guerre non), reprend en effet des extraits de discours de Maduro. Des centaines de milliers de partisans, brandissant des drapeaux vénézuéliens, ont assisté à la cérémonie. La foule a acclamé l’homme de 63 ans, coiffé d’une casquette rouge rappelant la casquette de baseball MAGA, lorsqu’il s’est mis à danser. » | Par Juliette Picard | mardi 2 décembre 2025

Au lieu que Nicolás Maduro fuie le Venezuela, il serait bien plus judicieux que Trump quitte la Maison-Blanche ! Nicolás Maduro a sa place au Venezuela, car il est vénézuélien. Trump, en revanche, n'a pas sa place à la Maison-Blanche, car c'est un imposteur. Il a vraiment le culot d'exiger que Maduro quitte son propre pays. De toute façon, Trump ne veut de lui qu'une chose : s'emparer des précieuses réserves pétrolières du pays. Il veut s'enrichir encore davantage, lui et les autres Trump. C'est répugnant ! — © Mark Alexander

“The Empire Has Never Been More Naked” - US Media in Trump’s War with Venezuela | The Listening Post

Nov 29, 2025 | The United States’ deadly “counter-narcotics mission” off Venezuela’s coast hinges on an unproven drug-smuggling narrative - a familiar pretext for regime change, and one the mainstream media have been quick to echo. Meanwhile, Venezuelans face escalating repression at home.

Trump Reportedly Gave Maduro Ultimatum to Relinquish Power in Venezuela

THE GUARDIAN: US president sent a ‘blunt message’ to his South American counterpart, sources say

Donald Trump reportedly gave Nicolás Maduro an ultimatum to relinquish power immediately during their recent call – but Venezuela’s authoritarian leader declined, demanding a “global amnesty” for himself and allies.

On Sunday, the US president confirmed the call had taken place, telling reporters: “I wouldn’t say it went well or badly, it was a phone call.”

Neither the US nor Venezuelan government have offered further details of the topics discussed during the highly unusual conversation, which is thought to have happened on 21 November.

But sources told the Miami Herald the US president had sent a “blunt message” to his South American counterpart, who is the focus of a four-month pressure campaign in which Trump has ordered a massive naval deployment off Venezuela’s northern coast.

“You can save yourself and those closest to you, but you must leave the country now,” Trump reportedly said, offering safe passage for Maduro, his wife and his son “only if he agreed to resign right away”.

However, Venezuela’s president reportedly refused to step down immediately and allegedly made a series of counter-demands, including worldwide immunity from prosecution and being allowed to cede political control but keep control of the armed forces. » | Tom Phillips, Latin America correspondent | Monday, December 1, 2025

Venezuela : Maduro demande l'aide de l'OPEP, Washington lui propose de «partir pour la Russie»

LE FIGARO : Caracas insiste sur le fait que l’objectif véritable des États-Unis serait un changement de régime et la mainmise sur les réserves pétrolières du pays tandis qu’un sénateur américain affirme qu’une porte de sortie lui a été proposée.

Le Venezuela a demandé dimanche à l'Organisation des pays exportateurs de pétrole (OPEP) de l'aider à stopper «l'agression» des États-Unis, qui ont déployé des bateaux de guerre dans les Caraïbes et évoquent la possibilité de réaliser des frappes aériennes sur le sol vénézuélien.

Le président Donald Trump, qui dit lutter contre les cartels de la drogue du Mexique et d'Amérique centrale, intensifie la pression sur le Venezuela du président Nicolas Maduro, avec un déploiement militaire majeur, notamment avec le plus grand porte-avions du monde. Il accuse Caracas d'être derrière le trafic de produits stupéfiants qui inondent le marché américain. » | Par Le Figaro avec AFP | dimanche 30 novembre 2025

What Venezuelans Think of Trump's Attempt to Close Venezuelan Airspace | DW News

Nov 29, 2025 | Donald Trump says the airspace above Venezuela is to be closed. The US president is stepping up his feud with Venezuela's leftist leader Nicolás Maduro over alleged drug-running through the Caribbean. With a US task force already in the region, Trump has previously said land operations will begin soon against suspected Venezuelan drug-traffickers.

Trump ‘Turns Up the Dial’ on Maduro, Aiming to Force Him Out of Office: Analysis

Nov 29, 2025 | Charles Samuel Shapiro, former ambassador to Venezuela and current professor of international relations at Georgia Tech, says Trump aims to dial up pressure on Maduro and force him out of the country. “

What this does is it turns up the dial, turns up the pressure on Maduro,” Shapiro told Al Jazeera. “And clearly what the United States President Trump wants is for Maduro to leave office, and that would mean he’d have to leave the country.”

Shapiro said it’s unclear what the US endgame actually is. “Trump is increasing the pressure. Will it go to military action? I can’t answer that, and I suspect that’s why the US Southern Command and Defense Department are referring all questions to the White House.”

What Level of Military and Political Support Can Russia Provide to the Maduro Regime? | DW News

Nov 24, 2025 | Tensions in the Caribbean are continuing to rise as the Trump administration increases the pressure on Venezuela's left-wing authoritarian leader, Nicolás Maduro. Following the seizure of several Venezuelan vessels suspected of drug smuggling, the US military is increasing its presence off the coast of its Latin American neighbour. Some claim that President Trump's ultimate goal is to overthrow the Maduro regime, and that Maduro may be hoping that his traditional ally, Russia, will intervene to save him.

«Je n’exclus pas la possibilité d’envoyer des troupes» : Donald Trump poursuit sa stratégie d’intimidation face au Venezuela

LE FIGARO : DÉCRYPTAGE - La guerre contre le narcotrafic lancée fin août par Donald Trump dans les Caraïbes s’accompagne d’une intense opération de déstabilisation contre le président vénézuélien Nicolás Maduro.

«Nous devons simplement nous occuper du Venezuela», a déclaré, sibyllin, le président des États-Unis lundi 17 octobre, dans un contexte de recrudescence des tensions avec Caracas et d’accentuation de la pression américaine sur le régime chaviste. Depuis la fin du mois d’août, la guerre lancée par Donald Trump contre le trafic de drogue dans les Caraïbes - dont les frappes menées sur des embarcations accusées sans preuves de transporter de la drogue ont fait au moins 83 morts -, s’accompagne d’une opération de déstabilisation du pouvoir tenu d’une main de fer par le président socialiste Nicolás Maduro depuis près de treize années et que Washington accuse d’être à la tête d’un cartel criminel.

«À un moment donné, je vais lui parler», a déclaré Donald Trump en début de semaine après avoir multiplié les réunions avec ses conseillers à ce sujet. «Celui qui veut parler avec le Venezuela, on parlera avec lui en tête-à-tête. Sans aucun problème», lui a répondu le leader du Parti socialiste unifié (PSUV). Au même moment, le plus grand porte-avions au monde, l’USS Gérald R. Ford, arrivait dans les Caraïbes pour rejoindre la zone d’opération de la 4e Flotte américaine dans le cadre de l’opération Southern Spear, «Lance du Sud». Ce sont désormais 15.000 soldats américains qui sont déployés dans la région, du jamais vu depuis la crise des missiles à Cuba en 1961 : une dizaine de navires, un bâtiment d’assaut amphibie et son détachement expéditionnaire de Marines, un croiseur lance-missiles, des destroyers, un sous-marin d’attaques, une escadrille de chasseurs-bombardiers F-35B... De son côté, le Venezuela mobilise ses troupes qui se tiennent prêtes. » | Par Victor Mérat |samedi 22 novembre 2025

Réservé aux abonnés

Nicolás Maduro Issues Anti-War Plea.

”Do we want to see another Gaza in South America?”

Why Trump Could Be Planning to Topple Venezuela's Maduro | ITV News

Nov 17, 2025 | For months now, the US has been destroying boats in the Caribbean it accuses of smuggling drugs into its country.

Now it has brought the world's largest warship to within striking distance of Venezeula. It accuses its leader Nicolás Maduro of running a narco-terrorist organisation aimed at destabilizing the US through drugs.

But with cocaine from the country reportedly accounting for just 10% of the US market - what part are the country's rich oil reserves and the US's own politics playing in his motives?

Will Tullis tells Daniel Hewitt what you need to know.

Trump Turns Up the Heat on Venezuela’s Maduro with US Supercarrier’s Arrival in the Caribbean

Nov 17, 2025 | “What Trump is doing here is trying to squeeze Maduro and frighten him.”

The USS Gerald R. Ford has arrived in the Caribbean Sea, but this use of military force is “not authorised” by international law, says former US diplomat Matthew Bryza.

Trump to Launch Missile Attacks on Venezuela When Ford Carrier Arrives

Nov 8, 2025 | “The United States just does not have enough ground troops to invade Venezuela.”

The US invading Venezuela is “out of the question” at this point, but they will launch missile attacks, says Mark Cancian from the Center for Strategic and International Studies.

Trump Alienating His Base as He Neglects Domestic Issues for 'Adventurism'

Nov 6, 2025 | “Trump’s base is already getting concerned about his overseas adventures and taking his eye off the ball domestically.”

President Trump is seen by some as “gallivanting around the world” rather than dealing with issues such as inflation and food prices, says The Times’s assistant US editor David Charter.

Democracy Now! Is the US News Planning to Assassinate Maduro?

Nov 7, 2025 | The U.S. is continuing to blow up boats in the Caribbean and the Pacific despite growing international condemnation, while the Trump administration reportedly considers launching airstrikes on Venezuela or even assassinating President Nicolás Maduro.

“We are committing wanton criminal acts of assassination in the Caribbean [against] innocent people who haven’t been found guilty of anything, and kind of setting the stage for an attack on Caracas itself in an attempt to take out its leader,” says Peter Kornbluh, a senior analyst at the National Security Archive.

Kornbluh also discusses the legacy of the Church Committee 50 years ago, which investigated abuses by U.S. intelligence agencies, including coups and assassinations abroad.


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