Well, you know what the people are asking as we take a look at a map of the region and where these tankers are. By the way, the first one that we seized has made its way to Galveston, Texas. General, when you see these two ships and pursue a third, are you essentially declaring war on Venezuela.I don't think it's a declaration of war. I think it is a means of putting economic pressure on now. When you put ground troops in here, you really need to get some authorization from Congress for that because that's ...

President Trump is ramping up tensions with Venezuela, ordering a blockade on sanctioned oil tankers going to and from the South American country. Trump Trump wrote on social media last night, quote, "The illegitimate Maduro regime is using oil from these stolen oil fields to finance themselves." He added, "For the theft of our assets and many other reasons, including terrorism, drug smuggling, and human trafficking, the Venezuelan regime has been designated a foreign terrorist organization." It's unclear w ...

Core Viewpoint - The article discusses the U.S. administration's strategy to increase pressure on Venezuela, particularly through oil export restrictions, as a means to potentially facilitate regime change [1][2]. Oil Market Impact - Venezuela's oil exports are a significant revenue source for the regime, and curbing these exports could severely limit the funds available to the government [2]. - The U.S. has already taken steps to tighten restrictions, including the seizure of a ship suspected of carrying drugs, which is part of a broader strategy to address issues like drug trafficking and illegal immigration linked to Venezuela [3][4]. - Current oil production from Venezuela is around 500,000 to 600,000 barrels per day, which is less than 1% of the global oil consumption of approximately 100 million barrels per day [6][7]. Market Sentiment and Price Dynamics - Recent actions have led to a slight increase in oil prices, with Brent crude rising nearly 1.5%, but prices remain below $60 per barrel [5]. - The sentiment in the market may be more influenced by geopolitical factors rather than actual changes in oil supply fundamentals [6][7]. - Despite potential disruptions from Venezuela's oil exports, the overall oil market is experiencing a glut, with prices recently falling to their lowest levels since 2021, and expectations of worsening conditions by 2026 [9].

President Donald Trump has blamed drug trafficking for the deadly U.S. strikes on boats in the Caribbean Sea and his threats to force the resignation of Venezuela's President Nicolás Maduro, but crude... ...

Joining us, MS Now congressional reporter Michael Schnell, editor and chief of foreign policy and host of FP Live, Ravi Agarwal, and retired fourstar general and MS Now military analyst, General Barry McCaffrey. Interesting to see um so many Republican lawmakers today, Michael, saying that they're concerned and they need more more answers out of the Pentagon. >> Yeah, Katie.And notably, it's the bipartisan lawmakers, including those Republicans from a pair of key committees, both the House Armed Services Co ...

RT Johnny St.Pete (@JohnMcCloy)🔥IF YOU EVER WANNA KNOW WHY THERE IS NEVER PEACE BETWEEN UKRAINE & RUSSIA LISTEN TO THIS SEGMENT & HOW SOROS IS INVOLVED."ITS ALL ABOUT THE 75 TRILLION DOLLARS INSIDE OF RUSSIA" -@MikeBenzCyber"NOW UKRAINE WANT TO BRING IN EUROPE & WHEN YOU BRING IN EUROPE YOU BRING IN THE BLOB."- Jack PosobiecTRUMP WANTED ONE OF THE CONDITIONS WOULD BE A FULL AUDIT OF THE MONEY AND UKRAINE WANTED TO CHANGED THE TERMS TO AMNESTYMike Benz joins Jack Posobiec to discuss the Ukraine/Russia war. M ...

This is an important first step — stopping the money funnel to regime change media. The next step, which both Americans and the global community deserve to know, is publishing Biden & Obama era internal files at RFE/RL showing their efforts & coordination to regime change OrbanBalázs Orbán (@BalazsOrban_HU):‼️ The 🇺🇸 U.S. Agency for Global Media ends funding for @RFERL’s 🇭🇺Hungarian-language service “Szabad Europa,” stating that American taxpayers’ money will no longer be used to weaken allies.👉 Originally ...

US-Colombia Relations - Colombia recalled its ambassador from the US due to a feud between President Trump and President Petro, stemming from the US military strike that killed a Colombian fisherman [1] - The US administration prioritizes homeland security, focusing on combating drug trafficking and illegal migration, potentially leading to further actions against Colombia and Venezuela [4][5] - Trump cancelled foreign aid to Colombia and criticized its president, indicating a strained relationship between the two countries [3] US Foreign Policy & Military Actions - The US military conducted at least seven strikes on boats allegedly carrying narcotics, resulting in at least 32 deaths [1] - The legality of the US military actions in international waters is questioned by those outside the White House, but political blowback is expected to be minimal [6][7] - There are concerns about potential regime change operations in Venezuela, which could lead to increased risks for US soldiers and contradict the "MAGA America first" policy [7][8] Domestic Political Implications - The administration's actions in the Western Hemisphere contrast with Trump's desire to play peacemaker overseas [9] - The White House team shows more unity behind the president's actions so far, but alignment on the endgame remains uncertain [5]

Venezuela Situation & US Policy - US President authorized military strikes against suspected drug boats in the Caribbean, resulting in over 20 deaths in six strikes [1] - Senator argues these strikes are against tradition, requiring accusation and evidence before lethal action [2][3] - Senator highlights that Coast Guard statistics show about 25% of boarded ships have no drugs, questioning the policy of blowing up suspected drug-running ships [4] - Senator suggests speedboats are likely supplying drugs to islands near Venezuela, questioning the assumption they are destined for the US and the lack of proof [5] - Senator emphasizes the difference between war and peace, stating that all-out war with Venezuela requires a declaration of war from Congress [6] - President Trump acknowledged authorizing a covert CIA operation inside Venezuela, and the Pentagon has scaled up US forces in the region [7] - Senator finds it unusual to announce a covert CIA operation, questioning its effectiveness [8] - Senator notes some members of the administration have been pushing for war with Venezuela for a long time [9] - Senator points out President Trump's past opposition to regime change in Iraq and Libya, highlighting the costly and destabilizing consequences of those interventions [10][11]

International Relations & Diplomacy - A potential double meeting involving President Trump, President Putin, and Ukrainian President Zalinski to discuss ending the war in Ukraine is being considered [1][2] - The US is considering Ukraine's request for long-range missiles, but Trump's stance seems to shift after speaking with Putin [2][3] - The Council on Foreign Relations suggests that providing Ukraine with the necessary support is crucial for achieving a ceasefire and peace, arguing that Trump's behavior may be undermining this goal [6][7] - The US approach to diplomacy with Ukraine and Russia is described as unconventional, with concerns raised about consulting Russia before providing support to Ukraine [5] Military & Security - The provision of Tomahawk missiles to Ukraine is under discussion, but the focus should be on providing sufficient intelligence and military support to deter Putin [3][9][10] - The ongoing phase of the war in Ukraine is noted to be in its third and a half year, with concerns that without decisive support for Ukraine, the war will continue due to Russia's larger economy and population [8][9] Geopolitics & US Foreign Policy - The choice of Budapest, Hungary, as the location for a potential summit raises questions, especially given Hungary's sympathetic stance towards Russia [11][15] - The US involvement in Venezuela, including potential military actions, is viewed by some as a possible regime change attempt, raising concerns about the long-term consequences and the need for multilateral cooperation [18][19][20][21]