Overview
- Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth meets Dominican leaders after Joint Chiefs Chair Gen. Dan Caine’s stop in Trinidad and Tobago, reflecting a push to align Caribbean partners with U.S. plans.
- President Trump said he might speak directly with Nicolás Maduro and warned the U.S. could proceed “the easy way” or “the hard way,” leaving diplomacy on the table alongside military options.
- The State Department formally listed the Cartel de los Soles as a Foreign Terrorist Organization, broadening U.S. sanctions and targeting authorities against alleged Maduro-linked actors.
- U.S. forces have conducted at least 21 strikes on suspected drug boats since September, killing about 83 people, as critics challenge the evidence and legal basis; an FAA warning led several airlines to suspend Caracas flights.
- Cuba condemned the buildup as “exaggerated and aggressive,” Colombia’s president said oil is at the heart of U.S. pressure, and reports describe authorized CIA covert actions and a potential new operational phase.