Argentina: Milei's Party Secures Surprise Win In Midterms

Milei’s Party Secures Surprise Win in Midterms Argentina Argentine President Javier Milei won a decisive victory in Sunday’s midterm elections, tightening his control over Congress and bolstering his free-market overhaul with backing from Washington, CBS News reported. With nearly all votes counted, Milei’s right-wing La Libertad Avanza party exceeded projections by securing about 41 percent of the national vote, defeating the once-dominant Peronist opposition, which received around 31 percent. The results showed his party and allies gained 14 new seats in the upper house of the legislature and 64 in the lower house. While still short of a full majority, the vote’s outcome surprised many observers who had described the midterms as a referendum on Milei, elected in 2023 on promises to boost Argentina’s chronic economic malaise. A self-described “anarcho-capitalist,” the libertarian leader imposed a series of “shock therapy” policies that devalued the peso, cut energy subsidies, and saw tens of thousands of public employees lose their jobs. The policies briefly stabilized Argentina’s finances, producing its first balanced budget in more than a decade and reducing inflation from 200 percent two years ago to 32 percent now, the Wall Street Journal added. Even so, his administration has been plagued by a series of scandals and mass protests against his policies that cast doubt on his popularity ahead of the vote. But Sunday’s results now give Milei effective veto power over opposition legislation and solidify his hold on Argentina’s austerity program, which has drawn both popular anger and investor praise. Milei thanked supporters, saying the vote was “the confirmation of the mandate we assumed in 2023.” Praise also poured from Milei’s key ally, US President Donald Trump, who had tied billions in US financial aid to the outcome of the vote. The Trump administration had conditioned a $20 billion currency-swap deal with Argentina’s central bank and another $20 billion in private loans on Milei’s electoral success, after warning it would withdraw support if the Peronists prevailed. Markets reacted positively on Monday, with Argentine bonds and stocks surging and analysts describing the results as a relief for investors who had doubted Milei’s political endurance. Observers noted, however, that the domestic strain remains severe: Inflation continues to erode real wages, and more than 250,000 jobs have been lost since Milei came to power, with at least 18,000 businesses closing, CBS noted. Axel Kicillof, the Peronist governor of Buenos Aires province, warned Milei was ignoring “the suffering of many Argentines,” adding that US-backed loans “will do nothing to help ordinary people.”

Congress Targets Hezbollah Drug Smuggling In Latin America

Congress targets Hezbollah drug smuggling in Latin America By Pedro Rodriguez, 3 days ago The Senate Caucus on International Narcotics Control held a hearing this week on the Iran-financed Islamic terrorist network Hezbollah, and its oil smuggling, money laundering, counterfeiting, and illegal weapons procurement operations. All of these efforts are tied to drug cartels and communist regimes in Latin America. It comes as no surprise that after the collapse of the Bashar Assad regime in Syria, Hezbollah’s ally, the terrorist network has had to seek funding and shelter elsewhere. CUT OFF HEZBOLLAH’S LIFELINE TO INTERNATIONAL FINANCING “In this critical time, Hezbollah may seek to further expand its Latin America drug trafficking and money laundering networks, and that's why we are holding this hearing today,” Sen. John Cornyn (R-TX), chairman of the caucus, stated in Global Gangsters: Hezbollah’s Latin American Drug Trafficking Operations. “As noted by the Financial Crimes Enforcement Network, Hezbollah established a presence in the lawless tri-border region of Argentina, Brazil, and Paraguay, infiltrating the largest shiite muslim diaspora,” Cornyn added. FINCEN also reported that Hezbollah’s expanding partnerships with South American drug cartels and the Chavez-Maduro regime in Venezuela are helping to advance the Islamic terrorist network’s money-laundering operations. “I’m concerned about reports that indicate that the former Venezuelan Vice President was responsible for issuing the Venezuelan passports to Hezbollah members, facilitated their coming into Latin America, and helped Hezbollah to channel funds to the Middle East,” Cornyn said. Sen. Bernie Moreno (R-OH) called Venezuela a “safe haven” for one of the world’s most lethal terrorist networks. In 2020, the Justice Department charged a former member of the Venezuelan General Assembly with narcotrafficking, terrorism, weapons offenses, and acting as a liaison between Cartel of the Suns and Hezbollah and Hamas. As stated by Cornyn, Hezbollah’s ties to the communist regime have facilitated the terrorist network’s illicit activities in the region. The group’s operations in Latin America first drew U.S. government attention during President Barack Obama’s administration, as Hezbollah began shifting its focus away from the Middle East. With the collapse of its chief financial patron, the Iranian regime, and the weakening of Syria’s Assad, the organization sought new funding sources abroad. Now, under President Donald Trump’s second administration, Hezbollah is accelerating its activities across Latin America, filling the financial void left by its declining power base in the Middle East. HEZBOLLAH IS DOWN, NOT OUT “President Trump's brave decision to strike Iranian nuclear sites in Operation Midnight Hammer could dry up a key source of funding for Hezbollah,” Cornyn said. Hezbollah’s other ally, Hamas, has been almost completely eradicated in Gaza thanks to Trump’s military alliance with Israel, which aimed to eliminate the terrorist organization after its brutal attacks on Israel on Oct. 7, 2023, giving Hezbollah an even stronger reason to expand its operations in the Western Hemisphere.

Renato Giovannoni's Essential Buenos Aires

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Colombia's Petro Fires Back At US Sanctions

Colombia’s Petro Fires Back at US Sanctions Colombia Colombian President Gustavo Petro denounced US sanctions imposed on himself, his family, and senior officials this week, as tensions between Bogotá and Washington plunged to their lowest point in years following escalating threats and military action by the US in the Caribbean, the Wall Street Journal reported. On Friday, the US Treasury froze all US-based assets belonging to Petro and the others under the new sanctions regime, accusing the Colombian leader of “allowing drug cartels to flourish.” Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent said cocaine production in Colombia had reached “the highest rate in decades, flooding the United States and poisoning Americans.” Petro denied the allegations, writing on X that “fighting drug trafficking for decades – and effectively – has brought me this measure from the government of the very society we helped so much to curb its cocaine consumption.” The sanctions mark the latest escalation in the feud between Petro and Trump, who last week halted all US aid payments to Colombia and threatened to impose additional tariffs on the country’s exports. Trump accused Petro of being an “illegal drug leader” and warned he needed to close up drug operations, “or the United States will close them up for him, and it won’t be done nicely.” Washington has also launched airstrikes on alleged drug-trafficking vessels in the Caribbean and eastern Pacific that have killed at least 43 people. Petro and human rights groups allege that some of the victims were civilians, an accusation the White House denies, according to CBS News. Amid the ongoing spat, the leftist leader recalled Colombia’s ambassador to Washington and countered that the suspension of US aid would have little effect. However, he acknowledged that cuts to military assistance, particularly the loss of US helicopters, would harm anti-drug operations in the South American country, Reuters wrote. Colombia is the world’s largest producer of cocaine, and the supply of the drug has reached a historic peak around the globe, according to US and United Nations anti-drug officials. Although the Colombian government has continued to struggle to take control of major hubs for rebel and criminal activity, Petro said authorities have seized a record amount of cocaine in the past three years, totaling more than 3,000 tons. The former guerrilla leader has floated the idea of legalizing cocaine to weaken the cartels, while complaining that the narcotic was only illegal because it was made in Latin America. Share this story

Brasil: Embraer Begins Construction Of Massive Maintenance Center In Fort Worth!

4 By Tatenda Karuwa Published 3 days ago Tatenda is an award-winning aviation journalist. He provides the latest news and insight on airlines, airports, and all other developments across the continent. Based in Dubai, UAE. follow Like Thread 4 Log in Embraer has started the construction of its new Maintenance, Repair and Overhaul (MRO) center for commercial jets at Perot Field Fort Worth Alliance Airport (AFW) in Texas. The milestone was celebrated with a groundbreaking ceremony attended by Embraer executives, local officials, and representatives from partner companies. The Brazilian manufacturer has hundreds of regional jets flying across the US, and the establishment of this center will bring more economic opportunities to Fort Worth. The new center will be part of Embraer’s global network, serving as a hub for maintenance work and innovation. Expanding MRO Capabilities In Texas A United Airlines Express Embraer 175 commuter jet. Credit: Shutterstock ✕ Remove Ads Embraer’s new facility is scheduled to open by 2027. It will allow the manufacturer to increase capacity by 53% to serve E-Jets operators in the United States. The investment is expected to reach up to $70 million and create up to 250 new skilled aviation jobs in Texas. In June 2025, Embraer started operations at an existing hangar at Alliance Airport, in collaboration with the City of Fort Worth, Denton County, and the State of Texas. With construction commencing at the site, Embraer marks a new chapter in its journey in the US, where it has been present for over 46 years. The new facility represents a long-term commitment to the US market. Parties across industry, government, and education will come together to innovate and build the infrastructure and talent base that will sustain aviation in the region. Embraer President and CEO Francisco Gomes Neto said, “We are honored to be here in Fort Worth, Texas – a city that represents innovation, resilience, and opportunity – to celebrate the groundbreaking of our new Maintenance, Repair and Overhaul facility at Perot Field Alliance Airport. ✕ Remove Ads Investing In The Local Economy Embraer celebrates the groundbreaking of its new MRO facility in Fort Worth Credit: Embraer Fort Worth Mayor Mattie Parker describes Alliance Airport as a hub for innovation and economic opportunity. Embraer’s new facility will further strengthen Fort Worth’s position as a leader in aviation and advanced manufacturing. The investment also highlights the strength of the city’s business environment and the talent of its workforce. The expansion will mark a new era in the city’s long and proud aviation legacy. Earlier this year, Texas Governor Greg Abbott officially declared Fort Worth the Aviation and Defense Capital of Texas. The designation, introduced by state representatives and sponsored by the Texas Comptroller, acknowledges the city’s leadership in aerospace and defense manufacturing and technology. The declaration recognizes Fort Worth’s deep history in aircraft production, including the B-36 Peacemaker, B-58 Hustler, F-16 Fighting Falcon, and F-35 Lightning II. ✕ Remove Ads Alliance Airport is the second-largest airport facility in North Texas after Dallas/Fort Worth International Airport (DFW). AFW is owned by the city of Fort Worth and managed by Alliance Air Services. While it does not welcome any major commercial passenger airlines, it provides a range of aviation services and serves cargo operations. The new MRO center will be part of Embraer’s global facilities, which include over 80 authorized service centers and 13 Embraer-owned service centers. Embraer Operations In The US Delta Embraer E-175 taking off Credit: Shutterstock Although Embraer has been present in the US for nearly five decades, its E-Jets started operating in the US in 2005. The E190 was launched by JetBlue, although the airline has now retired the aircraft. While the number of regional jets is decreasing in the US, they remain a vital part of the ecosystem, operating on various domestic and regional routes. ✕ Remove Ads According to ch-aviation, there are over 800 Embraer E-Jets in active service with 15 operators across the US. SkyWest Airlines is the largest operator with 265 aircraft, followed by Republic Airways with 253, and Envoy Air with 173. SkyWest and Republic operate services for American Airlines, Delta Air Lines, and United, while Envoy is a wholly owned subsidiary of the American Airlines Group. Great News For Embraer As SAS Orders 45 E195-E2s Play Video 3:36 Other Embraer operators in the US include Breeze Airways and Horizon Air. Embraer recently secured a huge victory with its E-2 program, winning its first order in the US. Last month, Avelo Airlines placed a firm order for 50 E195-E2s with options for 50 more. Deliveries are expected to begin in the first half of 2027. ✕ Remove Ads Manufacturers Embraer Embraer MRO hangar Follow Like Share

Peru Declares 30-Day State Of Emergency In Lima Amid Protests and Crime

Peru Declares 30-Day State of Emergency in Lima Amid Protests and Rising Crime Peru Peru’s interim president José Jerí declared a 30-day state of emergency in the capital of Lima and the neighboring port of Callao this week, in an effort to quell weeks of anti-government protests and a sharp surge in violent crime that has destabilized the country, Agence France-Presse reported. On Tuesday, Jerí said the decree would take effect at midnight Wednesday, allowing the government to send troops onto the streets and restrict freedom of assembly and movement. The measure marks the new president’s first major action since assuming office nearly two weeks ago, following the impeachment of his predecessor, Dina Boluarte, over corruption allegations and her failure to curb organized crime. It follows weeks of youth-led demonstrations that have spread throughout the country, demanding government accountability amid worsening insecurity. The capital had already been under a partial state of emergency earlier this year following the murder of singer Paul Flores in an alleged extortion attempt. More than 200 people have been injured in the protests, including police officers and journalists. Last week, one person was killed during demonstrations demanding that Jerí resign. Jerí – who is expected to serve until July 2026 – has refused calls to step down. Meanwhile, critics and observers questioned whether the government has a concrete plan to address the root causes of organized crime, including a rise in extortion, Al Jazeera wrote. Authorities have said extortion cases have surged to an estimated 18,000 this year – a 30 percent increase over 2024 – while homicides rose to 1,690 between January and September, compared with 1,502 during the same period last year. At least 47 bus drivers have been killed in suspected extortion-related attacks, prompting widespread outrage over the state’s inability to maintain order. Share this story

Argentina: Milei Rocking and Rolling As The Election Approaches

Rocking ‘n’ Rolling: As Elections Approach, Argentina’s President Is Looking For a Miracle Argentina Argentine President Javier Milei headlined a rock concert for 15,000 supporters a few weeks ago, using his Presidential Band to belt out Argentine rock classics as giant screens flashed apocalyptic imagery and fans cheered. The concert was ostensibly to promote his new book, ‘La construcción del milagro’ (The Construction of the Miracle), but the president himself framed the event as a campaign rally meant to “rekindle the fervor” that propelled him to the presidency in 2023, ColombiaOne reported. That’s because this enthusiasm has turned to disillusionment and fury among many Argentine voters. As mid-term elections approach, the president, who had until recently enjoyed extraordinary success with his “chainsaw economics” approach to tackling Argentina’s problems, is starting to look much more vulnerable, especially in the wake of mass discontent with his austerity policies and fury over corruption scandals within his administration. Analysts say these elections, coming on the heels of big losses in a recent local election, lawmakers vetoing his cuts and curtailing his powers, and infighting within his far-right movement, could spell the end for Milei and his reform efforts. “Javier Milei has lost his lucky star,” wrote Spanish newspaper El País. “His redeeming power, emanating from the ‘forces of heaven,’ as he often likes to say, was mercilessly crushed… (and) exposed the king. The ‘best government in the history of humanity’ must now find an earthly formula to alleviate the ordeal that lies ahead – the national legislative elections – and it cannot afford another fall.” Milei, an eccentric libertarian economist and television commentator, was elected as Argentina faced a deep economic crisis with inflation running at more than 200 percent. Since he took office almost two years ago, he’s made deep cuts to government spending, frozen wages, disability benefits and pensions, and brought inflation down to around 2 percent. He delivered a fiscal surplus in his first year after nearly 15 years of deficits. And the country’s projected growth for this year, after two years of recession, could top 5 percent. Even though he has been hailed at home and abroad for starting to turn things around for Argentina, his policies have prompted weekly protests from Argentines who have struggled to survive. In June 2025, unemployment figures reached 7.9 percent – the highest level since 2021, partly because of the budget cuts. Meanwhile, the poverty rate reached a record high in 2024 of 54.8 percent, and although it has decreased, more than one-third of Argentines fall under the poverty line today, with double that number telling pollsters they can’t afford their monthly expenses. And Milei’s removal of currency controls has meant that the Argentine peso has appreciated significantly against the dollar, pushing up the cost of living. Argentina is now one of the most expensive countries in Latin America – with some of the lowest salaries. The situation came to a head for Milei during elections in Buenos Aires province last month. Boasting how he would trounce the opposition, his right-wing party, La Libertad Avanza, only secured about 34 percent of the vote, while its left-wing Peronist opponents won about 47 percent in an election seen as a referendum on his policies. Meanwhile, he has been grappling with corruption scandals involving his sister, his lawyer, and members of his administration. He himself is under investigation for his promotion of a cryptocurrency that turned out to be a scam. That has severely undercut his image as an outsider doing things differently, and his promise to stamp out corruption. “When Milei won Argentina’s presidency in late 2023, a large part of his appeal was his self-portrayal as a populist outsider fighting against the country’s corrupt political ‘caste,’” wrote World Politics Review. “Voters may have been willing to overlook a bit of corruption if they felt Milei’s government was delivering economic policies that were improving their daily lives. However, when people feel economic pain, alleged embezzlement on the part of the president’s lawyer and sister is exactly the sort of scandal that will bring electoral punishment.” Voters, angry over the scandals, threw rocks and bottles at Milei during a recent campaign appearance. Meanwhile, Argentina’s Congress, where his party has a minority, has repeatedly vetoed his proposals and also moved to tighten the leash recently. Earlier this month, Argentina’s lower house overwhelmingly passed a bill to limit his ability to use emergency presidential decrees. In an effort to push forward his austerity agenda, he has issued more than 70 decrees since becoming president in December 2023. Still, commentators say that a main problem for Milei is that he surrounds himself with a small group of advisors including his sister, Karina, known as “the boss” and members of the politically prominent Menem family – also implicated in corruption schemes – but burns bridges with everyone else including the business community, bankers, the country’s governors and other far-right and conservative political leaders as well as the opposition politicians willing to work with him. He also harmed his reputation as a reformer when the peso came under such pressure and threatened his presidency, that he was forced to ask for financial aid from the US last month, funds conditioned on the results of the mid-terms, say analysts. Now, in an election where half of the lower house and one-third of the Senate will be up for grabs, his party is expected to lose again, commentators say. What happens next is up to Milei, they add. “He is weakened, and yet his opponents underestimate his continuing appeal with voters exhausted by decades of political dysfunction,” wrote Time. “The big question is if Milei, off-balance now, can bounce back.”

Brasil's Embraer Has A Recod Of Unfilled Orders!

Dodging Trump's tariffs, Brazil's Embraer lands record orders By Miguel SCHINCARIOL, 10 hours ago Brazilian President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva christens the Embraer E2-190 aircraft in April 2024 /AFP/File Brazilian aircraft manufacturer Embraer on Tuesday reported a record order backlog in the third quarter of $31.3 billion after dodging the worst of US tariffs. The world's third-largest aircraft manufacturer hailed an "unprecedented high" in orders led by the commercial aviation sector with a backlog of 490 aircraft. US President Donald Trump in August imposed a further 40 percent tariff on Brazilian goods, but exempted aircraft. This was crucial for Embraer as the United States represents 45 percent of its commercial aircraft market and 70 percent of its executive aircraft market. The company was still affected by the baseline 10 percent tariff applied to all imports in April and has called for a swift return to "zero tariff rules for all aviation and aerospace industry." Brazil was slapped with higher rates over what Trump termed a "witch hunt" against his ally, far-right former president Jair Bolsonaro. Bolsonaro was sentenced to 27 years in prison for plotting to overthrow President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva after his 2022 election loss. Bolsonaro's trial and the resulting tariffs and sanctions on Brazil strained diplomatic ties between the two countries. However, in recent weeks there has been a thaw in tensions, with a 30-minute phone call between Lula and Trump and a meeting between the countries' top diplomats in Washington. Brazil's presidency has said it is possible that the two leaders could meet this weekend at the summit of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) in the Malaysian capital. A European diplomat told AFP on condition of anonymity earlier this month that lobbying by Embraer and other major Brazilian companies had helped unlock the dialogue. Embraer said it had delivered 62 aircraft in the third quarter, including 41 business jets, 20 commercial aircraft, and one military aircraft. The order backlog represented a 38 percent increase from the third quarter of 2024. 25

China Accumulates Projects Worth $14 Billion In Argentina

Politics China accumulates projects worth $14 billion in Argentina By Banyeliz Muñoz, 13 hours ago BUENOS AIRES, Oct. 21 (UPI) -- With $14 billion in investment projects and rising exports, China has consolidated its position as a key trading partner for Argentina. China is a growing investor and a major lender to Argentina, making it nearly impossible for the South American nation to distance itself from the Asian country, analysts say. File Photo by Enrique Garcia Medina/EPA The relationship between the two countries has been at the center of debate as the U.S. Treasury agreed to a $20 billion currency swap to support the economic reform program led by President Javier Milei. U.S. Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent announced the agreement with Argentina's Central Bank on X on Tuesday, describing it as "a bridge to a better future, not a bailout." "We don't want another failed state in Latin America, and a strong, stable Argentina as a good neighbor is explicitly in the strategic interest of the United States," Bessent said. Earlier, the Treasury secretary expressed an intent to limit China's presence in Argentina, particularly in strategic sectors such as ports, military bases and observation centers. China is a growing investor and a major lender to Argentina, making it nearly impossible for the South American nation to distance itself from the Asian country, analysts say. Under the Strategic Dialogue for Economic Coordination and Cooperation, China has 10 projects in Argentina worth $14 billion at various stages of implementation. Among them are a nuclear power plant, a hydroelectric complex and the rehabilitation of railway lines. They also include a power transmission project in the Buenos Aires metropolitan area and several renewable energy generation initiatives. Argentina is also part of China's Belt and Road Initiative, which includes a memorandum of understanding and 13 cooperation agreements in areas such as energy, transportation and major infrastructure projects. However, none of those projects has begun. Other bilateral agreements include a Chinese-operated deep-space tracking station in Neuquén and the CART radio telescope in San Juan, which is being assembled. The Argentine Chamber of Exporters also notes the growing presence of Chinese brands in the country, mainly in technology and automobiles, as well as mergers and acquisitions abroad that have domestic effects. Fernando Landa, the chamber president, told UPI that the $18 billion currency swap the Central Bank of Argentina maintains with the People's Bank of China represents 43% of Argentina's gross reserves. The mechanism allows the country to access Chinese currency in times of need, serving as a financial cushion. Commenting on the U.S. Treasury secretary's remarks, Gonzalo Ghiggino, a professor at Zhejiang University of International Studies, told UPI, "It is very difficult to replace China in trade and investment. China is an important source of support for Argentina; the swap is a crucial backstop for the Central Bank's reserves." He added, "China's investment potential is enormous. It is technically impossible to set the country aside, and given the current situation and future outlook, Argentina needs China." According to Argentina's National Institute of Statistics and Censuses, China surpassed Brazil in September for the first time since 2023 to become Argentina's top trading partner. Trade with the Asian giant totaled $3.11 billion, leaving Buenos Aires with a $523 million deficit. Argentine exports to China rose 31.3% to $1.82 billion, while imports surged 201.7% to $1.29 billion. "China is a major buyer of agricultural products, but also a key player in mining," Landa said. The Central Bank of Argentina reported that as of the first quarter, China ranked 14th in accumulated foreign direct investment at $4.29 billion, just 2% of the total, with interests in agriculture and mining, among other sectors. "The investments are tied to China's interest in raw materials, especially lithium, where it holds a strong global position," Landa said. Ghiggino said Chinese companies are investing the most in the mining sector. "In recent years, they have invested heavily in infrastructure. A notable example is the Belgrano Cargas railway. But with the high demand for lithium, much of the investment is now concentrated in northern Argentina. Mining is a major draw and has enormous potential," he said.

Trump's $40 Billion Argentine Giveaway Hits Major Snag

Trump's $40B Argentine giveaway hits major snag as banks balk at loan: report By Tom Boggioni, Updated 03:43 PM PDT, Tue October 21, 2025 Raw Story Follow U.S. President Donald Trump speaks to the media aboard Air Force One after participating in a world leaders' summit on ending the Gaza war, amid a ceasefire between Israel and Hamas in Gaza, on his way back to the U.S., October 13, 2025. REUTERS/Evelyn Hockstein A Donald Trump proposal to bail out struggling Argentina with a $40 billion loan is bumping up against economic reality with banks being asked to provide half of the amount demanding collateral or federal assurances. According to a report from the Wall Street Journal, financial institutions, including JPMorgan Chase, Bank of America and Goldman Sachs, are “struggling” to come up with a loan they would feel comfortable with. Also Read: 'Fully MAGA now': Latest case has experts finally writing off 'arrogant' Supreme Court With Trump pushing to assist Argentine President Javier Milei’s government, the plan was to create a financial package made up of a “$20 billion currency swap with the U.S. Treasury Department and a separate $20 billion bank-led debt facility,” the Journal is reporting. According to the report, it is turning out to be far easier to make the proposal than it is to make it a reality. Want more breaking political news? Click for the latest headlines at Raw Story. “While banks normally arrange these types of rescue facilities on their own, Treasury has been controlling the broader package and banks feel they can’t act without backing from Washington, some of the people said," the Journal reported. "The loan facility hasn’t been finalized and might not come together if the banks’ collateral question isn’t resolved, they said. U.S. banks haven’t been lending to Argentina, and the country has been shut out of the international capital markets for years.” The report adds that Argentina has already been the recipient of 20 bailouts from the International Monetary Fund (IMF) since the 1950s — and that has bankers nervous. There is also a risk to the U.S Treasury which would “swap $20 billion for a roughly equivalent amount of Argentine pesos,” which are rapidly depreciating. According to Brad Setser, a former deputy assistant Treasury secretary for the Obama administration, ”The risks from these operations are unusually large. Should the peso depreciate, which many think is not only likely but necessary, the Treasury would be left holding assets that have fallen in value.” Subscribe to Trump Tracker's newsletter to receive the latest news and updates directly in your inbox. Subscribe →

Centrist Candidate Wins Bolivia's Presidency

Centrist Candidate Wins Bolivia’s Presidency, Ending 20 Years of Leftist Rule Bolivia Centrist senator Rodrigo Paz won Bolivia’s presidential runoff Sunday, ending nearly two decades of dominance by the leftist Movement Toward Socialism Party (MAS) of former President Evo Morales, the Wall Street Journal reported. Preliminary results showed Paz secured almost 55 percent of the vote, while his conservative opponent, former President Jorge Quiroga, received about 45 percent. Bolivia’s electoral court said the figures are “preliminary and not definitive,” noting that official results will be released within seven days, according to The Guardian. In his victory speech, Paz thanked supporters and vowed to build “a new path after 20 years that have left us out of the economy … and geopolitics.” He has pledged to revitalize Bolivia’s struggling economy by attracting foreign investment, particularly in mining and lithium development – the country holds the world’s largest lithium reserves. He also plans to improve relations with the United States after years of left-wing rule saw Bolivia foster closer relations with Washington’s rivals, including China, Iran, and Venezuela. Sunday’s runoff comes after a first round of voting in August, which saw Paz and Quiroga in the lead. MAS candidate Interior Minister Eduardo Del Castillo only won around 3 percent, a stinging defeat for the socialist party that has dominated Bolivian politics since 2006. Observers attributed the party’s collapse to internal divisions between Morales and outgoing President Luis Arce, as well as public anger over the country’s deepening economic crisis. The deeply unpopular Arce decided to sit out the election. Analysts said the new president will inherit a nation facing its worst economic crisis in 40 years, marked by high inflation, fuel shortages, and falling bank reserves. The centrist leader said he would take a gradual approach to reduce the country’s massive budget deficit and cut spending, including slashing fuel subsidies that cost the state about $3 billion a year. Political analysts cautioned that Bolivia’s powerful unions and social movements will strongly oppose such moves. Another challenge will be to bring the country’s large underground economy – around 80 percent of the workforce is made up of self-employed or informal workers – into the formal market. Although Paz’s Christian Democratic Party (PDC) won the most legislative seats, it lacks a majority, and it will be forced to cooperate with Quiroga and moderate left-wing factions to pass key reforms. Share this story

Mexico And Colombian Cartel Members Reportedly Infiltrating Ukraine's International Legion To Boost Drone Warfare Skills

Military Mexican and Colombian Cartel Members Reportedly Infiltrating Ukraine's International Legion to Boost Drone Warfare Skills By Héctor Ríos Morales, 3 days ago Intelligence officials said individuals are joining Ukraine's International Legion to learn how to operate first-person view kamikaze drones AFP For years, authorities in both Mexico and the United States have known that drug trafficking organizations use unmanned aerial vehicles (UAV), such as drones, to carry out attacks on rival factions, transport drug shipments, and, in some cases, forcibly displace entire communities in northern Mexico through the use of explosives. However, according to a recent investigation, some cartel operatives from Mexico and Colombia are now infiltrating Ukraine's foreign fighter groups to strengthen their drone warfare capabilities. As reported by The Telegraph, Mexican intelligence officials alerted their Ukrainian counterparts in July about the presence of cartel members embedded in these groups. Officials said the individuals are joining to learn how to operate first-person view kamikaze drones, which give pilots a live aerial feed as they guide explosive-laden aircraft toward their targets. One of the most recent recruits is a drone pilot who goes by the callsign Aguila 7, or Eagle 7. According to intelligence reports, the individual is linked to the Los Zetas cartel and enlisted with Ukraine's International Legion to acquire drone combat skills for use in cartel conflicts back home. "Ukraine has become a platform for the global dissemination of first-person view drone tactics," a security official in Kyiv told Intelligence Online, a French security website that first reported on the investigation into Aguila 7, as cited by The Telegraph. "Some come to learn how to kill with a $400 drone, then sell that knowledge to whoever pays the highest price." The number of cartel members who have joined Ukraine's foreign fighter ranks remains unknown. However, previous investigations have identified at least three former members of Colombia's disbanded Revolutionary Armed Forces (FARC) among the ranks. Reports suggest cartel operatives are taking advantage of Ukraine's limited capacity to properly vet foreign volunteers. Several international fighters told The Telegraph that background checks are rare, and military or civilian credentials are often not reviewed, allowing individuals with criminal ties to enlist with little oversight. Alexander Marciniak, a Latin American intelligence analyst interviewed by The Telegraph, said cartel operatives are not joining Ukraine's military to support the war effort but rather to master combat tactics they can later use against rival groups in Mexico. "The cartels can use drones for all sorts of purposes, including attacks and surveillance on other cartels and security forces, and for smuggling contraband," Marciniak said. As reported by The Latin Times, criminal groups in Mexico have significantly modernized their tactics in recent years, with many investing heavily in drone operations. One example is the Cártel Jalisco Nueva Generación, led by Nemesio Oseguera Cervantes, known as "El Mencho," which counts with its own elite unit that operates modified drones. U.S. officials have warned that the increasing use of drones by cartels poses a growing threat to national security. In July, a senior official at the Department of Homeland Security said it is only a matter of time before American personnel are targeted. Steven Willoughby, deputy director of DHS's Counter-Unmanned Aircraft Systems Program, said cartels already use drones routinely to smuggle drugs and contraband into the United States and are also conducting what he described as hostile surveillance of law enforcement operations. "During the last six months of 2024, over 27,000 drones were detected less than 500 meters from the southern border. Most were flying at an altitude above 120 meters," Willoughby said. The Jalisco cartel is not the only Mexican group adopting this kind of technology. In June, The Latin Times reported that La Mayiza, a faction of the Sinaloa Cartel led by Ismael Zambada Sicairos, the son of longtime cartel leader Ismael "El Mayo" Zambada, had obtained military-grade drone-jamming equipment. According to the report, the group acquired the devices by exploiting legal loopholes and was using them to interfere with federal operations. In other parts of northern Mexico, groups including Los Salazar, one of the most violent factions of the Sinaloa Cartel, have deployed explosive-equipped drones to terrorize civilians and forcibly displace communities in areas believed to hold gold deposits. © 2025 Latin Times. All rights reserved. Do not reproduce without permission.

Venezuela Condemns US Moves Targeting the Country

Venezuela Condemns US Moves Targeting the Country Venezuela Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro condemned US President Donald Trump’s decision to authorize CIA covert operations and potential land strikes in Venezuela, denouncing it as a severe violation of international law and an attempt at regime change, MercoPress reported. Maduro’s administration said this week that it would file a complaint with the United Nations Security Council and the Secretary-General, calling for accountability and urgent measures to avoid military escalation in the region. Trump confirmed Wednesday that his administration secretly cleared the CIA to carry out covert and potentially deadly operations on Venezuelan territory, escalating a campaign against Maduro and his alleged role in smuggling drugs to the US. The US recently deployed about 10,000 troops, eight warships, a nuclear-power submarine, and fighter jets to the Caribbean. Over the past month, the US military has carried out at least five strikes targeting boats off the Venezuelan coast, arguing they are smuggling drugs, Politico noted. The operations have killed 27 people so far, including six during the latest strike on Tuesday. United Nations officials said the raids amount to “extrajudicial executions.” Trump told reporters that his administration has “almost totally stopped” drug trafficking by sea and is now considering strikes on Venezuelan territory. “We are certainly looking at land now because we have the sea very well under control,” Trump said. Maduro ordered military exercises and said he was mobilizing the military, police, and civilian militia to defend the oil-rich country. While the US emphasized that the recent strikes were carried out in international waters, the new clearance by the White House would allow the CIA to conduct lethal operations in Venezuela as well as a range of other activities throughout the Caribbean. While it remains unclear whether the CIA is planning attacks on Venezuela, the spy agency has previously conducted numerous operations in South America, a legacy that prompted Maduro to say “No to CIA-orchestrated coups d’état” while appealing for peace on TV on Wednesday. US officials have privately acknowledged that the ultimate goal of the campaign is to remove Maduro from power, the New York Times reported. The Trump administration does not recognize him as a legitimate president because of an election last year it deems fraudulent. At the same time, the US has accused him of leading the Cartel de los Soles – an accusation that he has denied. The US has also offered a $50 million bounty for Maduro, the BBC wrote. Meanwhile, Venezuelan opposition leader María Corina Machado, who won the 2025 Nobel Peace Prize last week, has been calling for greater US support to fight what she considers a “war” on her country by Maduro, and has praised Trump’s efforts to counter the Venezuelan leader, she told CNN.

Peru: Violent Anti-Crime Protests Leave One Dead

Violent Anti-Crime Protests in Peru Leave One Dead as Government Fails to Quell Unrest Peru One person died and more than 100 were injured Wednesday after protesters clashed with police at anti-crime demonstrations in the Peruvian capital of Lima, as weeks of unrest continued despite the ouster of the president over corruption and security failures, France 24 reported. During a protest organized on Wednesday by Gen Z groups, transport workers, and civil society organizations, some demonstrators tried to tear down metal barriers protecting Congress, while others threw stones and lit fireworks. Riot police responded with tear gas, Reuters noted. One death, of a 32-year-old male, was reported: According to prosecutors, he was shot to death but they did not identify the shooter. Newly appointed interim President Jose Jeri said the killing would be “objectively” investigated. Jeri blamed the violence on “delinquents who infiltrated a peaceful demonstration to sow chaos.” In an effort to de-escalate the unrest, Jeri vowed to “declare war” on organized crime and make it his top priority. The government’s perceived failure to deal with a worsening crime crisis has been drawing thousands of people to youth-led protests in Lima and other cities in recent weeks. Following demonstrations by bus companies, merchants, and students against extortion by criminal gangs, and attacks on those who refuse to pay protection money, lawmakers voted last week to impeach President Dina Boluarte, blamed by critics for the crisis. Extortion and contract killings have become daily events in the South American country. Gangs like Los Pulpos and Venezuela’s Tren de Aragua, active across Latin America, have escalated their kidnapping and ransom operations in the country. The impeachment, however, failed to quell the unrest. Jeri, meanwhile, will remain in office until next year’s elections. However, he already faced serious scandals, including corruption allegations and a now-suspended investigation for sexual assault. He has denied any wrongdoing and said he would cooperate with investigators. Still, analysts believe he won’t last long running the country. He is the country’s seventh president since 2016. Three of those are in prison.

Venezuela And Cuba Are Collapsing

Opinion: Venezuela is collapsing — and don’t look now, but so is Cuba By Daniel Allott, 1 days ago Rolling blackouts. A worthless currency. A once-mighty industry on life support. Doctors, engineers and students leaving in droves in search of a future. That all sounds like Venezuela, but I’m talking about Cuba. As Venezuela’s crisis deepens, another — quieter but just as dangerous — is unfolding just 90 miles from Florida. The drama may be smaller, but the danger is real. If Venezuela is wobbling, Cuba is starting to fall. On Sept. 10, Cuba’s entire electrical grid failed, plunging nearly 10 million people into darkness. It was the island’s fourth nationwide blackout in less than a year. Even before that, much of the country was losing power for half the day. Officials blamed machinery; Cubans blamed the system. The country’s energy network has become a patchwork of corroded plants and emergency repairs. Over the past 14 months, it has suffered a dozen nationwide outages. Years of neglect and the burning of high-sulfur crude have crippled its power stations. As U.S. sanctions tighten on Nicolás Maduro, Venezuela’s ability to keep its ally supplied with oil has withered. Fuel shipments from Venezuela — Havana’s economic lifeline for two decades — now fluctuate wildly, sometimes dropping below 10,000 barrels a day before rebounding. Russia and Mexico have stepped in with emergency cargoes, but neither offers stability. Without steady deliveries, plants sputter and nights become suffocating. In some towns, residents cook by candlelight, charge phones at work, and sleep on rooftops to escape the heat. The currency collapse has ground down daily life. Even average state salaries amount to less than $20 a monthat the informal exchange rate, far below the cost of living. Gasoline is scarce and ruinously expensive. In rural areas, bicycles and horse carts have replaced cars. Tourism, once the island’s economic engine, has fallen by more than half over the last decade. Even middle-class Havana now endures rolling blackouts, empty shelves, and rising petty crime. The peso trades near 400 to the dollar on the street, its weakest rate on record. Prices for staples climb relentlessly, and stores selling imported goods increasingly demand hard currency that most Cubans cannot earn. The result is a two-tiered economy that mirrors Venezuela’s descent into dollarization, where access to dollars — not work, skill or effort — determines who eats well and who doesn’t. Cuba’s signature crop has fared no better. This year’s sugar harvest is expected to fall below 200,000 tons, the lowest since the 1800s. In the 1980s, sugar harvests topped 8 million. Today, Cuba is importing raw sugar, a stunning reversal for a former agricultural superpower. The collapse gutted exports, weakened the peso and idled thousands of rural workers. The losses aren’t just economic. Over the last four years, roughly two million Cubans — nearly 20 percent of the island’s population — have fled. Hospitals lack doctors, universities lack professors, and small businesses lack skilled workers. Families are scattered, classrooms empty, innovation stalled. What appears to be a pressure valve for the regime is really a slow bleed of the nation’s lifeblood. The parallels with Venezuela are unmistakable. Both regimes chose political control over prosperity. Both leaned on external lifelines — oil, credit, remittances — that are now fraying. Both crush dissent when policy fails. Venezuela’s decay hollowed out a once-rich state. Cuba has the same script, only with a much larger arc and without the oil money. The Havana-Caracas partnership has always been more than transactional. For a quarter century, the two governments have portrayed themselves as revolutionary brothers defying U.S. power. The bond dates back to Hugo Chávez’s rise in 1999 and his admiration for Fidel Castro’s revolution four decades earlier. Cuba sent doctors, teachers, and security advisers; Venezuela paid in oil. Even today, as both regimes falter, each remains the other’s last dependable ally in a region that has largely moved on. Their bond, however, is finally fraying. Venezuelan oil shipments to Cuba have collapsed, from roughly 56,000 barrels per day in 2023 to as few as 8,000 in June 2025. Havana still provides diplomatic cover for Maduro, but both governments are now propping each other up with diminishing strength — two exhausted revolutions clinging to the same fading ideology. In both countries, force has replaced persuasion. Independent journalists are jailed, critics harassed, and citizens whisper their frustrations in private. Once-proud social programs — universal education and health care — have decayed and are now mere shells of what they once were. All that remains are schools without teachers, hospitals without medicine, clinics without electricity. Meanwhile, Washington is again engaged in a high-stakes game in the Caribbean. U.S. warships patrol off Venezuela and have destroyed vessels suspected of smuggling narcotics — a show of force meant to pressure Maduro. Cuban dissident and former political prisoner Óscar Biscet sees the regimes as intertwined. “Cuba and Venezuela are twin dictatorships that sustain each other through corruption and transnational crime,” he told me. “The communist Castro regime effectively occupies Venezuela’s political and military institutions and uses them to export repression and to traffic drugs to the United States.” Formally, President Miguel Díaz-Canel leads Cuba. In reality, decisions still flow from a small cadre of aging revolutionaries — Raúl Castro, now 93, and a few longtime comrades in their nineties. Power moves through personal networks rather than institutions. Preservation, not renewal, is the guiding rule. Across the island, billboards still trumpet “Continuity.” For most Cubans, that no longer means stability — it means continued suffocation. To be sure, Cuba is not Venezuela. Its security forces remain disciplined. Tourism and remittances still bring in dollars that Caracas can only envy. Emigration keeps anger from boiling over. And the Communist Party has survived so many shocks that it is always risky to forecast its collapse. But the warning signs aren’t hard to see. The lights keep flickering. The peso buys less every day. The sugar mills are quiet. The young are leaving. The pillars that once held Cuban socialism upright are giving way all at once. Venezuela’s collapse dominates the headlines, but Cuba’s slow-motion breakdown could have far more profound consequences. A failed state just 90 miles from Florida would unleash new migration waves, invite rival powers into the region, and test America’s resolve. Havana’s flickering lights may be the hemisphere’s next alarm bell. Daniel Allott is the former opinion editor of The Hill and the author of “On the Road in Trump’s America: A Journey into the Heart of a Divided Country.” Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to The Hill.

Peru's President Ousted

Peru’s Congress Ousts President Dina Boluarte Over Corruption and Security Failures Peru Peruvian President Dina Boluarte became the latest leader in the country to be ousted over the weekend, following months of political turmoil marked by corruption scandals, deadly protest crackdowns, and a spiraling security crisis that has gripped the country, CNN reported. On Friday, lawmakers from across the political aisle voted to remove Boluarte for “permanent moral incapacity.” They accused her of failing to curb organized crime and cited a series of corruption allegations, including bribery, abuse of office, and misuse of state resources. The president denied the allegations and refused to attend the session. Boluarte became Peru’s first female president in December 2022 after the impeachment of her predecessor, Pedro Castillo. Her downfall comes amid a deepening crisis of governance in Peru, where more than seven presidents have faced trial or legal challenges related to corruption scandals or human rights abuses since 2000. Boluarte’s term was marked by growing backlash over the deaths of more than 60 protesters killed by security forces during unrest that followed Castillo’s ouster in early 2023. She also came under scrutiny for accepting luxury gifts and secretly undergoing cosmetic surgery while in office without delegating authority, violating constitutional protocol. The legislative vote followed closely after a shooting at a concert in the capital that ignited public outrage over rampant gang violence and rising crime in the country. Peru recorded 2,082 homicides last year – half of them contract killings – and more than 22,000 cases of extortion, underscoring the challenges ahead for the embattled nation. Boluarte will be replaced by Congress President José Jerí, who was sworn in as interim president. In one of his first acts, Jerí launched pre-dawn raids at four prisons, where authorities seized cellphones, weapons, and drugs from gang leaders. The new leader pledged he will make it a priority to tackle Peru’s rampant lawlessness, according to the Associated Press. Jerí will serve as interim president until July 2026, when Peruvians will select their new president in elections scheduled for April 12.

Argentina Congress Limits Melili's Decree Power

Argentina’s Congress Limits Milei’s Decree Power in Latest Blow to the Right-Wing Leader Argentina Argentina’s lower house on Wednesday overwhelmingly approved a bill to limit President Javier Milei’s ability to use emergency presidential decrees, the latest in a series of setbacks for the right-wing leader, whose party has a minority in Congress, Reuters reported. According to the bill, a decree can now be overturned by a single house of parliament. Before, a majority of both houses of parliament had to vote to reject a presidential order to overturn it, France 24 added. The Chamber of Deputies approved the measures by 140 votes in favor to 80 against, and 17 abstentions. The bill was already approved by the Senate, but it will now return to the upper house, where it is expected to be approved, following modifications. Milei could still veto the legislation. Milei’s party argued that the bill would be destabilizing and create legal uncertainty but critics say that the president has excessively used executive decrees, causing institutional damage. In an effort to push forward his austerity agenda, he has issued more than 70 decrees since becoming president in December 2023. Milei, who campaigned on being an outsider, described Congress as a “nest of rats” and its members as a “political caste.” The move is a fresh blow to the libertarian leader, who is already grappling with corruption scandals involving his sister, a peso crisis that forced him to obtain financial aid from the US last month, and three previous congressional votes that have overturned some of his spending vetoes. Meanwhile, Milei appears increasingly vulnerable in the run-up to midterm elections on Oct. 26, where half of the lower house and one-third of the Senate will be up for grabs. Last month, his party only secured about 34 percent of the vote in legislative elections in Buenos Aires province, while Milei’s left-wing Peronist opponents won about 47 percent in a vote seen as a referendum on his policies. Share this story

Argentina' Chainsaw Massacre

Argentina’s chainsaw massacre FT author Edward Luce US National Editor and Columnist ‌ ‌ PREMIUM October 10 2025 The speed of Javier Milei’s reversal of fortunes has been brutal. A few months ago, Argentina’s libertarian president was hailed as an economic miracle-worker and a lodestar for the global populist right. It was Milei who donated that infamous chainsaw to Elon Musk a couple of weeks after Donald Trump took office. At that point Milei was seen as a populist iconoclast who had scythed his way through bureaucracy to deliver inflation-beating austerity. This he had pulled off in terminally ill Argentina of all places. He had also written the road map for Musk’s so-called Department of Government Efficiency (Doge). It was not just Musk, Trump, JD Vance and other Maga figures who hailed Milei’s magical touch. Centre-left leaders such as Britain’s Keir Starmer, also felt obliged to pay their compliments. So complete was Milei’s status as the populist right’s foreign darling that America’s conservative CPAC gathering was held in Buenos Aires last December. This put him on a par with Hungary’s Viktor Orbán, who also played host to the conference. “We could call ourselves a rightwing international,” Milei told the audience. “In the hands of Trump, [El Salvador’s Nayib] Bukele and us here in Argentina, we have a historic opportunity to breathe new winds of freedom into the world.” A couple of months later Milei told the Economist, “I am today, one of the two most relevant politicians on planet earth . . . I find it fascinating that the chainsaw has become an emblem of a new golden era of humanity.” Pride goeth before the fall but in Milei’s case Trump is trying to catch him first. The irony of the libertarian nationalist who opposed foreign handouts now turning to Trump for urgent assistance is lost on no one. Those who want to explore the balance of payments challenges Milei faces should read this exemplary Alphaville note by Brad Setser and Stephen Paduano. Their assessment of whether Trump’s $20bn credit swap line will stem the Argentine peso’s fall is technical, so for those in a hurry, here is the gist. Milei slashed inflation from more than 160 per cent when he was elected in 2023 to 32 per cent by ending the use of central bank money printing to finance government spending and propping up the peso with Argentina’s dollar reserves. This kept import prices down and curbed inflation. But the impact on incomes of a high peso and sharp spending cuts was severe. When Milei’s party did badly in local elections last month, an-all-too familiar run on the peso was triggered. Having run through most of his reserves trying to prop it up, Milei had little choice but to turn to Trump (the IMF already gave Milei a $20bn soft loan earlier this year). The US Treasury secretary, Scott Bessent, obliged with an unconditional $20bn swap line on the softest terms possible. As was reputedly said by another South American strongman, Oscar Benevides, “For my friends everything; for my enemies, the law.” Either way, Setser and Paduano doubt if Trump’s help will be enough. “The problem with Milei is you eventually run out of other people’s money,” they quip. Argentina’s midterm elections later this month poses Milei’s most critical political test. If the opposition Peronists do well, Milei’s strategy could become untenable and the peso’s slide would continue. It is hard to imagine Trump throwing good money after bad. To be clear, and as history repeatedly tells us, the Peronists’ familiar expansionist recipe would be an inflationary cure worse than the disease. Milei’s exceptionalist moment may nevertheless be over. This means he and Musk still have a lot to talk about. I’m turning this week to my colleague Ciara Nugent, the FT’s Southern Cone correspondent, in Buenos Aires. Ciara, we haven’t met but I’ve enjoyed your coverage of Milei’s rollercoaster ride. I know he is the latest among several economic Wunderkinder that Argentina thrown up over the last few decades — though with a uniquely Trumpian flavour. My question is whether he has now exhausted Argentina’s libertarian option for another few years or does he still have scope to rebound? Recommended reading ‌ ‌

Venezuela Thwarts Terrorist Attack On US Embassy

Venezuela Foils Terrorist Attack at US Embassy Amid Worsening Ties with Washington Venezuela Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro announced this week that his security forces prevented a “false flag operation” by a “local terrorist group” to plant explosives at the United States Embassy in the country’s capital, Caracas, MercoPress reported. During his weekly TV show on Monday, Maduro said that two credible sources, one domestic and one international, had told the government about the possible attack by “extremist sectors of the local Venezuelan right.” Security forces were sent to reinforce security around the embassy, and authorities are searching for those involved in the failed plan. The president also shared details and information about the threat with the US government, and he said he received a positive response. Maduro described the foiled attack as a “provocation,” warning it was part of a larger destabilization attempt aimed at justifying further aggression against his country and heightening tensions with Washington – the US is expanding its military presence off the coast of Venezuela as part of a campaign against drug cartels, Al Jazeera noted. After the rupture of diplomatic relations between Caracas and Washington in 2019, the US embassy in Venezuela has remained closed, only maintaining necessary staff for security and the upkeep of the premises. Despite the difference between the two countries, Maduro insisted that the embassy is protected and respected by his government under international law. News of this alleged attack arrives as US President Donald Trump reportedly called off efforts to find a diplomatic agreement with Venezuela. The Trump administration does not recognize Maduro as the legitimate president and has accused him of being one of the world’s biggest drug traffickers and also the head of the Cartel de los Soles. The US military campaign in Venezuela currently focuses on attacking Venezuelan ships in the Caribbean Sea, which it believes are carrying drugs. Last Friday, US Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth said four people were killed during a strike on a small vessel in the Caribbean, which the White House considered involved in drug trafficking. Venezuelan officials have condemned the US’s targeting of shipping, saying it constitutes a campaign of extrajudicial killing.