Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro doubled down on his anti-imperialist rhetoric this week, declaring "Colony, never. Slaves, never" to thousands of supporters in Caracas. His fiery speech comes amid escalating U.S. military activity near Venezuela – a pressure campaign that’s now facing bipartisan scrutiny in Washington. 💥
Trump’s ‘Drug War’ Strategy Under Fire
U.S. President Donald Trump’s aggressive stance against drug trafficking has intensified since September, with two controversial naval strikes killing dozens and sparking congressional investigations. Lawmakers from both parties are demanding answers about the September 2 operation, where survivors of an initial attack were reportedly killed in a follow-up strike. 🚨
Regional Anxiety Spikes 🌎
Trump’s Tuesday warning that "any country producing drugs for the U.S. is a potential target" sent shockwaves through Latin America. His offhand remark about Colombia’s alleged cocaine production particularly rattled allies, while reports of U.S. plans to remove Maduro have raised fears of direct military intervention.
Pope Urges Restraint 🙏
In a rare political intervention, Pope Leo cautioned against regime change efforts, urging Washington to "look for ways of dialogue" instead. Meanwhile, over 13,000 Venezuelans have returned home this year amid tightening U.S. immigration policies – with repatriation flights resuming despite Trump’s earlier airspace closure threat.
As U.S. warships patrol the Caribbean and Maduro rallies his base, the world watches to see if 2025’s final month will bring de-escalation… or disaster. ⏳
