标签： Jamaica

The Trump administration has declared its intention to maintain indefinite control over Venezuela’s oil exports and direct the decisions of the country’s interim leadership following the capture of President Nicolas Maduro. This bold assertion of hemispheric dominance represents a significant escalation in U.S. involvement in Venezuelan affairs.

White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt confirmed Wednesday that Washington would continue dictating policy decisions to Venezuela’s interim authorities, stating that the U.S. maintains “maximum leverage” following Saturday’s military operation that extracted Maduro from Caracas. The deposed leader and his wife were transported to New York where they face narcotics trafficking charges.

The administration’s strategy hinges on controlling Venezuela’s oil industry, with Energy Secretary Chris Wright announcing plans to market Venezuelan crude “indefinitely, going forward.” This includes immediate sales of 30-50 million barrels of stored oil and continued control over future production. The approach relies heavily on naval blockades to prevent Venezuela from selling oil to sanctioned allies including Russia, China, and Iran.

In a demonstration of this maritime strategy, U.S. forces seized a Russian-linked oil tanker in the North Atlantic on Wednesday after pursuing the vessel from Venezuelan waters. The tanker, previously identified as Bella-1, had recently changed its registration to Russia.

President Trump is scheduled to meet with U.S. oil executives Friday to discuss potential investments in Venezuela’s deteriorating energy infrastructure, though no firm commitments have been made amid the ongoing political instability. The administration’s comprehensive plan combines economic control, military pressure, and political oversight to reshape Venezuela’s governance and energy sector.

WASHINGTON—US Vice President JD Vance issued a stark warning to European allies on Thursday, emphasizing the need to treat President Donald Trump’s concerns regarding Greenland with utmost seriousness. The statement comes amid escalating tensions over US interests in the strategically vital Arctic territory currently under Danish administration.

Speaking at a White House briefing, Vance criticized NATO partners, particularly Denmark, for what he characterized as insufficient efforts to safeguard Greenland against expanding Russian and Chinese military activities. The Vice President’s remarks follow recent White House confirmations that the administration is exploring options regarding Greenland, including potential acquisition, while not dismissing military contingencies.

Vance specifically highlighted the growing importance of Greenland for US missile defense infrastructure, citing increased foreign military presence in the Arctic region and the strategic implications of receding polar ice due to climate change. “We’re asking our European friends to take the security of that land mass more seriously,” Vance stated, adding that the United States would “have to do something about it” if allies failed to respond adequately.

The diplomatic friction has triggered urgent consultations across European capitals. British Prime Minister Keir Starmer has reportedly discussed the Greenland situation twice with President Trump this week, emphasizing enhanced cooperation for Arctic security. Meanwhile, US Secretary of State Marco Rubio is scheduled to meet with Danish and Greenlandic representatives next week for direct negotiations.

European leaders have responded with firm opposition to US assertions. France’s President Emmanuel Macron delivered unusually strong criticism, suggesting the United States was “turning away” from traditional alliances. Multiple European governments have issued joint statements affirming that Greenland’s sovereignty remains exclusively a matter for Denmark and the territory’s local government.

The confrontation represents the latest manifestation of the Trump administration’s assertive national security approach, which has previously criticized European defense capabilities and migration policies. The administration’s December national security strategy document notably described Europe as facing “civilizational erasure” and advocated supporting right-wing political movements across the continent.

Former Jamaican Prime Minister Bruce Golding has characterized the international community’s muted reaction to U.S. President Donald Trump’s recent actions in Venezuela as profoundly disheartening. In a column published in the Jamaica Observer, Golding asserted that the American leader has effectively intimidated most nations, including major European powers who now fear provoking his anger.

The geopolitical developments have placed Caribbean Community (Caricom) nations in an exceptionally difficult position, Golding argued. Taking a principled stand against what he termed “Trump’s rampaging” would almost certainly invite severe retribution from the United States.

Golding’s comments reference last week’s U.S. military operation in Venezuela that resulted in the capture and extradition of Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro and his wife Cilia Flores to face charges in American courts. Maduro, who appeared in a New York court on Monday, pleaded not guilty to multiple indictments including narco-terrorism conspiracy, cocaine importation conspiracy, and weapons violations.

The former prime minister, who led Jamaica from 2007 to 2011, condemned the operation as a flagrant violation of international law and a repudiation of core principles enshrined in the United Nations Charter. These principles include the sovereign equality of all states, equal rights and fundamental freedoms for all people, maintenance of international peace and security, avoidance of force against territorial integrity, and the preference for peaceful dispute resolution.

Golding noted that Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy’s support for Maduro’s capture reflects his dependence on U.S. backing against Russian aggression, while apparently overlooking that Russia’s actions toward Ukraine parallel Trump’s approach toward Venezuela and potentially other nations.

The situation creates a crisis dilemma for particularly vulnerable Caricom states, Golding explained. Countries like Antigua & Barbuda and Dominica have recently faced U.S. visa restrictions that will significantly impact their economies by hindering citizens’ travel capabilities. While officially justified by concerns over citizenship investment programs, Golding contends the restrictions actually punish these nations for their leaders’ relationships with Maduro.

Golding warned that the Caribbean region now faces the threat of “recolonization,” drawing parallels to challenges faced eighty years ago. He expressed hope that the region could navigate these dangerous waters as it has historically.

The former leader concluded that the world must wait until 2029 to see Trump leave office, but the future will depend on whether he establishes a new ideological framework for international relations that enjoys significant support. Ultimately, Golding argued, the future global order now rests in the hands of American voters and whether they will empower successors to perpetuate Trump’s legacy in the 2028 presidential election.

In a significant diplomatic development, Venezuela has granted freedom to five Spanish citizens, including prominent activist Rocio San Miguel who holds dual Venezuelan-Spanish citizenship. The release marks the first major prisoner amnesty since the recent political transition in Caracas.

Spain’s Foreign Ministry confirmed the liberation, stating the individuals are now preparing to return to Spanish territory. Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez revealed through social media platform X that these citizens had endured over twelve months of detention in the South American nation before their release.

The prisoner release initiative was characterized by Venezuelan parliamentary leader Jorge Rodríguez as an effort to promote ‘peaceful coexistence,’ though specific details regarding the total number or identities of those freed remain undisclosed. This development occurs amidst substantial political reshuffling following last weekend’s dramatic capture of former Venezuelan leader Nicolás Maduro by U.S. military forces.

Maduro’s apprehension and subsequent transfer to New York to confront narcotics trafficking charges precipitated the elevation of his former deputy, Delcy Rodríguez, to interim leadership. The new administration has received explicit endorsement from U.S. President Donald Trump, contingent upon Venezuela ensuring American access to its substantial petroleum reserves.

Spanish officials have welcomed the prisoner release as a constructive measure toward facilitating dialogue and national reconciliation among Venezuelan factions. The development signals potential warming in Venezuela’s international relations following recent geopolitical upheavals.