Articles in this Cluster
26-10-2025
Colombia's President Gustavo Petro has criticized the US military's strikes on drug smuggling boats in international waters, calling them 'easy but ineffective' and 'illegal.' Petro stated that some of those killed in the strikes have been innocent civilians and that the attacks violate international law. The US has announced at least 10 such strikes in the past two months, with the most recent one killing six alleged 'narco-terrorists.' Petro has urged the US to work collaboratively to address the issue of drug trafficking rather than using unilateral force. He has also invited President Trump to his presidential palace for a dialogue and warned that any US operations crossing Colombia's borders could lead to more violence.
Entities: Gustavo Petro, Donald Trump, Colombia, United States, Caribbean Sea • Tone: neutral • Sentiment: negative • Intent: inform
26-10-2025
The Trump administration has imposed sanctions on Colombian President Gustavo Petro, his family, and a close associate, escalating a feud between President Trump and Petro. The sanctions freeze their U.S. assets and block transactions with U.S. entities, citing increased cocaine production in Colombia under Petro's leadership. The U.S. Treasury Secretary and State Department spokesperson condemned Petro's alleged appeasement of drug cartels and narco-terrorists. Petro criticized U.S. strikes on alleged drug boats, which have killed over 40 people, and Trump threatened to cut foreign aid to Colombia and hike tariffs. The U.S. is also sending an aircraft carrier strike group to Latin American waters to counter narcotics traffickers.
Entities: Gustavo Petro, Donald Trump, Colombia, United States, Treasury Department • Tone: negative • Sentiment: negative • Intent: inform
26-10-2025
The US is deploying an aircraft carrier strike group to the waters off Latin America as part of a major buildup to counter narcotics traffickers. The USS Gerald R. Ford, the Navy's newest and most advanced aircraft carrier, will join eight other US vessels already in the region. The move is part of the Trump administration's campaign to disrupt illicit actors and activities that compromise US safety and security. The decision comes after a recent US strike on a vessel allegedly operated by the Venezuelan gang Tren de Aragua, which was trafficking drugs in the Caribbean Sea. This is the 10th strike carried out by the Trump administration against alleged drug trafficking boats in recent weeks, resulting in over 40 deaths.
Entities: USS Gerald R. Ford, Latin America, Pentagon, Trump administration, U.S. Southern Command • Tone: neutral • Sentiment: negative • Intent: inform
26-10-2025
The Trump administration has deployed the Gerald R. Ford Carrier Strike Group to the Western Hemisphere to combat narco-terrorism and dismantle Transnational Criminal Organizations (TCOs) in the region. The strike group, which includes the USS Gerald R. Ford, the world's largest aircraft carrier, and several destroyers, will enhance US capacity to detect, monitor, and disrupt illicit actors and activities. The deployment comes as the US continues to target suspected drug smuggling vessels in the Caribbean, with the most recent strike killing six alleged narco-terrorists. The military strikes have attracted scrutiny from both sides of the aisle, with some lawmakers questioning their legality.
Entities: Gerald R. Ford Carrier Strike Group, USS Gerald R. Ford, USSOUTHCOM, Transnational Criminal Organizations (TCOs), narco-terrorism • Tone: neutral • Sentiment: negative • Intent: inform
26-10-2025
The article analyzes President Trump's recent escalation of the war on drugs, particularly his targeting of Venezuela, and suggests that his motives may not be entirely driven by a desire to combat drug trafficking. The author, Stuart Ramsay, argues that Venezuela is not a significant producer of fentanyl, a synthetic opioid that is a major killer in the US, and that the country's role in the drug trade is largely as a transit country for cocaine and other drugs from Colombia and other neighboring countries. Ramsay suggests that Trump's actions may be motivated by a desire for regime change in Venezuela.
Entities: Donald Trump, Venezuela, US, Mexico, China • Tone: analytical • Sentiment: negative • Intent: critique
26-10-2025
The US has deployed its largest aircraft carrier, the USS Gerald R Ford, to the waters off South America as part of an operation to target alleged drug smuggling boats. The move has been criticized by Democrats, who say it risks war with Venezuela. US Secretary of War Pete Hegseth claimed that six 'narco-terrorists' were killed in a strike on a drug smuggling boat in the Caribbean Sea. The US has been using its military to 'dismantle transnational criminal organisations and counter narco-terrorism' in the region. Critics argue that the strikes are extrajudicial killings and that the US is 'inventing a war'.
Entities: US, South America, Venezuela, USS Gerald R Ford, Pete Hegseth • Tone: negative • Sentiment: negative • Intent: inform
