Escalating US Military Presence in Caribbean and Pacific

Ecuadorians voted against allowing foreign military bases in their country, thwarting US hopes of expanding its presence in the eastern Pacific region. The referendum result is a blow to Ecuador's President Daniel Noboa, who had campaigned to change the constitution to reverse a ban on foreign military bases imposed in 2008. Noboa argued that foreign military bases would help fight organized crime and reduce violence, but critics feared it would lead to authoritarian tactics and undermine checks on government power. The vote comes as the US has increased its military presence in the region, carrying out strikes on alleged drug-trafficking vessels and sparking concerns about potential strikes on land targets in Venezuela.

Iran's Revolutionary Guard confirmed the seizure of a Marshall Islands-flagged oil tanker, the Talara, in the Strait of Hormuz on Friday, citing violations including carrying an illegal consignment. The tanker was en route to Singapore with 30,000 tons of petrochemical products. The US Central Command condemned the seizure as a 'blatant violation of international law,' calling on Iran to justify its actions. The incident escalates tensions between Iran and the West, with Iran having previously been blamed for attacks on vessels in the region. The Strait of Hormuz is a critical waterway for global oil supplies, with 20% of traded oil passing through it.

The leader of a powerful Ecuadorian drug syndicate, Wilmer Chavarria, also known as 'Pipo,' was captured in Spain four years after faking his death. Chavarria is believed to be the leader of Los Lobos, a drug trafficking group with around 8,000 fighters that was recently designated a terrorist organization by the United States. He was captured in a joint operation with Spanish police in the city of Malaga. Chavarria had obtained a new identity and moved to Spain, from where he coordinated drug shipments, ordered assassinations, and ran extortion rackets against gold mines in Ecuador. The capture comes as Ecuadorians vote on a referendum that could allow foreign countries to run military bases in Ecuador, a move supported by President Daniel Noboa to increase pressure on drug traffickers. Los Lobos has been linked to political assassinations in Ecuador and has worked closely with Mexico's Jalisco New Generation Cartel. The group's emergence is tied to the power vacuum created after the assassination of a former Los Choneros leader in 2020.

The U.S. military conducted a strike on a boat accused of carrying narcotics in the Eastern Pacific, killing three people. This was the 21st such strike reported in recent weeks, as part of a major U.S. military buildup in the region aimed at stopping the flow of drugs into the U.S. The strike targeted a vessel operated by a 'Designated Terrorist Organization' in international waters. The administration has insisted that the buildup is focused on stopping drug trafficking, but has released no evidence to support its assertions that those killed were 'narco-terrorists.' The operations have been met with pushback from leaders in the region, the U.N. human rights chief, and lawmakers, who have pressed for more information on the targets and the legal justification for the strikes.

The US is set to designate Venezuela's Cartel de los Soles as a foreign terrorist organization, with Secretary of State Marco Rubio announcing the move as the USS Gerald R. Ford aircraft carrier arrives in the Caribbean Sea. The designation is seen as an escalating pressure tactic against Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro, who the Trump administration claims is complicit with armed criminal gangs that smuggle drugs into the US. The US has conducted strikes against vessels allegedly ferrying drugs from South America, killing at least 83 people. The buildup of US firepower in the region is the largest in generations, with the USS Gerald R. Ford carrier strike group representing a critical step in reinforcing the US's resolve to protect the security of the Western Hemisphere.

The US State Department is set to designate Cartel de los Soles, allegedly led by Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro, as a foreign terrorist organization. Secretary of State Marco Rubio announced the designation, which will be effective November 24. The cartel is accused of terrorist violence and drug trafficking into the US and Europe. The designation allows the US to impose sanctions and potentially target Maduro's assets and infrastructure. President Donald Trump suggested that the designation could lead to military action against Maduro, but was noncommittal. The move comes amid increased US military presence in the Caribbean and tensions between the US and Venezuela.

The US government has announced its intention to designate the Venezuelan cartel, Cartel de los Soles, as a foreign terrorist organization, effective November 24. The cartel is allegedly led by Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro and other high-ranking officials. The move comes amid escalating tensions between the US and Venezuela, with the US having amassed naval forces in the Caribbean and launched strikes on alleged drug-trafficking boats. Venezuelan President Maduro has warned the US against military intervention, stating that Caracas is launching a 'massive mobilization' of military personnel, weapons, and equipment. The designation is seen as a significant escalation of the US crackdown on Venezuelan narcotics trafficking.

Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro sang John Lennon's 'Imagine' during a rally, calling for peace amid rising tensions with the US. The Trump administration has bolstered its military presence in the Caribbean, near Venezuela, citing efforts to curb drug trafficking. Maduro denounced the move as aggression meant to weaken his government, and Venezuela has responded by deploying troops and amassing weapons. The situation has escalated tensions between the two countries, with President Donald Trump suggesting the possibility of ground operations in Venezuela.

The US has lost its ability to monitor terrorist groups in the Sahel region due to the closure of its military bases in Niger. The Biden administration's diplomatic failure led to Niger's government ordering the US to leave its bases, resulting in the loss of surveillance drones that were used to track terrorist groups. The US is now 'blind' to terrorist activities in the region, making it difficult to respond to incidents such as the recent kidnapping of an American missionary. Experts warn that the situation is critical, and the US is severely resource-constrained in the region.

Iran's Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi announced that the country has stopped enriching uranium at all its sites due to recent US strikes on its nuclear facilities. Araghchi stated that Iran's nuclear program is peaceful and that the country's right to enrichment is 'undeniable.' The US and its allies accuse Iran of using its nuclear program to develop weapons. The announcement came during a three-day conference in Tehran, where Iranian officials also expressed skepticism about the US's willingness to engage in 'equal and fair negotiations.' The conference followed a 12-day war between Iran and Israel in June 2025, which damaged Iran's nuclear facilities and air defense systems, exacerbating the country's economic and societal challenges.

The US has deployed its most advanced aircraft carrier, the USS Gerald R Ford, to the Caribbean Sea as part of a military build-up near Venezuela. The Donald Trump administration claims the move is aimed at preventing criminal cartels from smuggling drugs, but some believe it's intended to pressure Venezuela's Nicolas Maduro regime. The USS Gerald R Ford has arrived in the region along with other warships, troops, and weaponry, marking the largest increase in US firepower in generations. Venezuela's government has described the move as an act of aggression, while the US has released no evidence to support its claims that those killed in recent boat strikes were 'narcoterrorists'. Experts say the deployment could be an effective instrument of intimidation to push Maduro to step down, but others question its suitability for fighting cartels.

US President Donald Trump has stated that the US may have talks with Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro, despite the US planning to designate the Venezuelan drug cartel Cartel de los Soles, allegedly led by Maduro, as a foreign terrorist organization. The designation is expected to take effect on November 24 and would criminalize support for the organization. The move follows a more than two-month campaign of lethal attacks on alleged drug-running boats in the Caribbean Sea and the eastern Pacific Ocean, which have killed about 80 people. The US has expanded its military presence in the Caribbean, with a strike group led by the USS Gerald R. Ford arriving in the region.