❓WHAT HAPPENED: U.S. Secretary of War Pete Hegseth visited the Dominican Republic to discuss combating drug trafficking, while President Donald J. Trump signaled openness to direct talks with Venezuelan dictator Nicolás Maduro.
👤WHO WAS INVOLVED: Secretary of War Pete Hegseth, President Donald Trump, Venezuelan dictator Nicolás Maduro, Dominican officials, and U.S. military personnel.
📍WHEN & WHERE: Hegseth’s visit occurred on Wednesday in the Dominican Republic, amid U.S. military operations in the Caribbean.
💬KEY QUOTE: “The U.S. government could cause an incalculable number of deaths and create a scenario of violence and instability in the hemisphere that would be unimaginable.” – Cuban Foreign Minister Bruno Rodriguez
🎯IMPACT: The U.S. is balancing diplomacy and military pressure to address drug trafficking and regional stability, with potential talks between Trump and Maduro marking a pivotal moment.
U.S. Secretary of War Pete Hegseth visited the Dominican Republic on Wednesday to hold discussions with local officials on combating drug trafficking. This comes as tensions between the Trump administration and Venezuela remain elevated.
Despite the massive U.S naval buildup in the Caribbean, President Donald J. Trump has indicated his willingness to speak directly with Venezuelan dictator Nicolás Maduro. Maduro has also expressed openness to dialogue, presenting a possible diplomatic solution—though military strikes against the regime still appear likely.
The U.S. has intensified its efforts to curb drug trafficking from Venezuela, with military operations targeting vessels used to smuggle narcotics. These actions have reportedly resulted in at least 83 deaths. Additionally, the U.S. State Department designated the Cartel de los Soles, a network of Venezuelan officials allegedly involved in drug trafficking, as a Foreign Terrorist Organization (FTO). This designation grants the U.S. expanded legal authority to target people linked to the network, including Maduro, who is accused of heading the cartel.
Maduro, facing mounting U.S. pressure, has signaled a willingness to negotiate, and potentially offer crude oil shipments as a form of leverage. Most of Venezuela’s oil currently flows to China, but it could play a key role in any future discussions with Washington. Reports suggest that a direct call between Trump and Maduro is “in the planning stages,” though no date has been set. The call would follow weeks of U.S. maritime operations, including Operation Southern Spear, aimed at intercepting drug shipments.
Hegseth’s visit to Santo Domingo included meetings with Dominican President Luis Abinader and Defense Minister Carlos Antonio Fernández Onofre. This trip highlights the regional dimension of the U.S. strategy, which also saw Joint Chiefs Chairman General Dan Caine recently visit Trinidad and Tobago to discuss transnational criminal threats. Cuba, however, has criticized the U.S. approach, with Foreign Minister Bruno Rodriguez warning that “the U.S. government could cause an incalculable number of deaths and create a scenario of violence and instability in the hemisphere that would be unimaginable.”
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