Overview
- Homeland Security chief Kristi Noem said the seizures are intended to increase pressure on Nicolás Maduro and declared that he “must go,” a stance Trump echoed by calling it “wise” for Maduro to leave.
- The U.S. Coast Guard pursued the Bella 1 after it refused to comply and conducted administrative checks on the Panama‑flagged Centuries, while a previously seized tanker was brought to a Texas port.
- At the U.N., Russia labeled the U.S. naval campaign an “act of aggression” and “cowboy” behavior, China called it intimidation, and Venezuela condemned what it terms state piracy and extortion.
- U.S. officials maintained the operations target narcotics financing and reiterated allegations against Maduro, with Ambassador Mike Waltz citing a $50 million reward and claims tied to the so‑called Cartel de los Soles.
- The Caribbean deployment has expanded to about 15,000 U.S. personnel with fresh C‑17 flights into Puerto Rico, as legal concerns mount over strikes reported to have killed more than 100 and as sanctions spare only Chevron’s limited shipments while China remains Venezuela’s main buyer.