Trump Says Maduro’s Days Are Numbered as UN Rebukes US Maritime Strikes

Overview

• Venezuela’s Nicolás Maduro applauded the UN human-rights chief’s office for calling recent US boat attacks in Caribbean waters unacceptable and urging a halt and an investigation.
• Russia denounced what it called excessive US force and restated support for Caracas, as reporting also said Maduro sought military, technical and financial assistance from Russia, China and Iran.
• US operations labeled as counter-narcotics have totaled about 15 offensives since September, destroying 16 vessels and leaving roughly 64 deaths, with the latest strike on Nov. 1 causing three fatalities.
• President Donald Trump told CBS’s 60 Minutes he believes Maduro’s tenure is nearing its end, while saying he doubts a full-scale war with Venezuela will occur.
• Brazil signaled diplomacy as President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva said he will raise the issue at a CELAC summit and may call Trump if talks lag, while adviser Celso Amorim warned that broad ‘narcoterrorism’ labels risk justifying new attacks and noted the reported reactivation of the US Roosevelt Roads facility in Puerto Rico.