Overview
- NBC News reports the administration is planning to send troops and intelligence personnel to Mexico, with initial training underway for potential ground operations.
- President Claudia Sheinbaum has rejected any U.S. military presence in Mexico, stating there will be no invasion.
- The New York Times reports senior advisers are examining concrete military options against Venezuela, including targeted strikes and securing oil fields, and the White House has sought new DOJ legal guidance.
- U.S. forces have escalated maritime and air actions against alleged drug smuggling since September, with reports of dozens killed and calls for transparency from international and congressional voices.
- The Pentagon has moved major assets such as the USS Gerald R. Ford into the Caribbean, Trump has acknowledged covert CIA activity in Venezuela, and Russia has warned Washington against excessive force while voicing support for Caracas.