Overview

• Foreign Minister Yván Gil addressed the U.N. General Assembly in place of Nicolás Maduro, rejecting U.S. “narcoterrorism” claims and alleging Washington is plotting an assault on Venezuela.
• Gil said the government is considering a nationwide “state of external agitation” in response to what it views as mounting military pressure.
• Maduro recently sent a letter seeking direct talks and offering cooperation to help locate leaders of the Tren de Aragua gang, asserting Venezuela is not a major transit point for cocaine.
• The White House called the letter “full of lies,” reiterated it considers Maduro’s government illegitimate, and has doubled the reward for his capture to $50 million.
• U.S. forces have deployed warships and aircraft to the Caribbean for counternarcotics missions and reported lethal strikes on suspected traffickers near Venezuela, fueling concerns about potential escalation in the region.