In a defiant display on Monday, December 1, 2025, Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro rallied thousands in Caracas, pledging unwavering loyalty to his supporters amid escalating U.S. military pressure. "We do not want a slave's peace, nor the peace of colonies. Colony, never. Slaves, never," he declared, tapping into deep-rooted national pride.
This year, Washington has mounted a massive military buildup near Venezuela, coupled with intensified strikes on alleged drug-smuggling boats in the Caribbean and the Pacific. The months-long campaign has killed dozens and sparked bipartisan concern in Congress, where lawmakers have threatened to force a vote on any proposed strike inside Venezuelan territory.
Pressure on the White House grew after revelations about Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth's account of the September 2 operation, which saw survivors of the first strike killed in a follow-up attack. Admirals involved are set to brief congressional committees as investigators probe potential legal violations.
Despite pushback at home, U.S. President Donald Trump expanded his warnings this Tuesday, December 2, naming any country that supplies drugs to the U.S. a potential target. "If they come in through a certain country, or any country," he said, arguing that fentanyl and cocaine networks could face swift strikes on land, not just at sea.
His remarks, including a claim that he "heard" Colombia was producing cocaine, have heightened regional anxieties and fueled fears of a wider conflict. Reports even suggest Washington is considering options to remove Maduro, with U.S. forces poised for new operations after the Caribbean buildup.
On December 2, Pope Leo, the first American pope, cautioned against military intervention, urging the administration to pursue dialogue or economic pressure instead of force.
Amid these high-stakes tensions, repatriation flights for Venezuelan migrants resumed this week after Caracas approved a U.S. request to restart twice-weekly charters. More than 13,000 Venezuelans have returned this year under tighter U.S. immigration measures.
As geopolitical currents shift between Washington and Caracas, young global citizens—from business professionals to digital nomads—are reminded how foreign policy can ripple through economies, borders and daily lives.
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Maduro pledges loyalty to Venezuelans as Trump faces scrutiny at home
cgtn.com
