Donald Trump

Trump Ramps Up Aggression Against Venezuela With Seizure of Ship Not Under US Sanctions

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Original article by Brett Wilkins republished from Common Dreams under Creative Commons (CC BY-NC-ND 3.0). 

A US military helicopter flies over the oil tanker Centuries in the southern Caribbean Sea on December 20, 2025. 
(Photo by US Department of Homeland Security)

The Venezuelan government condemned the seizure as “a serious act of international piracy;” meanwhile, a US official said the Coast Guard was pursuing a third tanker in the Caribbean.

The Trump administration’s “total and complete blockade” of “all sanctioned oil tankers” off the Venezuelan coast was already denounced by critics as “an act of war”—and the United States further escalated its aggression on Saturday by seizing a tanker that is not on a list vessels under US sanctions.

US Coast Guard troops led Saturday’s seizure of the Centuries, a Panamanian-flagged, Chinese-owned oil tanker in the Caribbean Sea, after it left Venezuela.

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Trump Escalates in Venezuela With 'Illegal' US Seizure of Oil Tanker

Trump Escalates in Venezuela With ‘Illegal’ US Seizure of Oil Tanker

Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro

Venezuela Condemns US ‘Piracy’ as Trump White House Signals It Will Seize More Oil Vessels

“The United States will continue to pursue the illicit movement of sanctioned oil that is used to fund narco-terrorism in the region,” US Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem said on X. “We will find you, and we will stop you.”

On Sunday, an unnamed US official told Reuters that the Coast Guard “is in active pursuit” of a third tanker near Venezuela, “a sanctioned dark fleet vessel” that “is flying a false flag and under a judicial seizure order.”

The Venezuelan government condemned Saturday’s seizure as “a serious act of international piracy.”

Venezuela “denounces and rejects the theft and hijacking of a new private vessel transporting oil, as well as the forced disappearance of its crew, committed by military personnel of the United States of America in international waters,” Venezuelan Vice President Delcy Rodríguez said in a statement.

“These acts will not go unpunished,” she vowed, adding that Venezuela will pursue “all corresponding actions, including filing a complaint before the United Nations Security Council, other multilateral organizations, and the governments of the world.”

Earlier this week, President Donald Trump declared a blockade of all oil tankers under US sanctions that are traveling to or from Venezuela.

Saturday’s action followed the US seizure of the Panamanian-flagged Skipper—which is under sanctions—off the Venezuelan coast on December 10.

The Centuries seizure also comes amid the Trump administration’s bombing of at least 28 boats allegedly transporting drugs in the Caribbean Sea and Pacific Ocean, attacks that have killed more than 100 people and have been condemned as acts of extrajudicial murder.

In addition to the blockade and boat strikes, Trump has deployed an armada of warships and thousands of troops to the southern Caribbean, authorized covert CIA action against the socialist government of Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro, and has threatened to invade the South American nation. This latest wave of aggression continues more than a century of US meddling in Venezuela’s affairs and sovereignty.

Numerous world leaders have denounced the US aggression toward Venezuela. On Saturday, leftist Brazilian President Luiz Inácio Lula de Silva said during a summit of the South American Mercosur bloc in Foz do Iguaçu, Brazil that an “armed intervention in Venezuela would be a humanitarian catastrophe.”

In the United States, multiple efforts by members of Congress—mostly Democrats, but also a handful of anti-war Republicans—to pass a war powers resolution blocking the Trump administration from bombing boats or attacking Venezuela have failed.

Echoing assertions by Venezuelan officials and others, one of those Republicans, Rep. Thomas Massie of Kentucky, said earlier this week that Trump’s aggressive escalation “is all about oil and regime change.”

Some critics have called Trump’s actions a renewal of the “gunboat diplomacy” practiced by the US in the 19th and 20th centuries. The US has conducted scores of military interventions in Latin America, including dozens of regime change operations.

Original article by Brett Wilkins republished from Common Dreams under Creative Commons (CC BY-NC-ND 3.0). 

Donald Fuhrump says that Amerikkka doesn't bother with crimes or charges anymore, not being 100% Amerikkkan and opposing his real estate intentions is enough.
Donald Fuhrump says that Amerikkka doesn’t bother with crimes or charges anymore, not being 100% Amerikkkan and opposing his real estate intentions is enough.
Orcas discuss how Trump was re-elected and him being an obviously insane, xenophobic Fascist.
Orcas discuss how Trump was re-elected and him being an obviously insane, xenophobic Fascist.

Continue ReadingTrump Ramps Up Aggression Against Venezuela With Seizure of Ship Not Under US Sanctions

Pirates of the Caribbean: sovereignty, law and Donald Trump

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https://www.morningstaronline.co.uk/article/pirates-caribbean-sovereignty-law-and-donald-trump

 US President Donald Trump says Venezuela must return ownership rights of its oil to US companies

WASHINGTON’S seizure of a second ship carrying Venezuelan oil continues its brazen piracy on the high seas.

It’s a further escalation in US aggression against Venezuela designed to bring about regime change.

Donald Trump’s crimes are dramatic, his motives expressed unusually openly. His secretary for war — and the revival of this title instead of defence secretary speaks for itself  — boasts about prioritising “maximum lethality, not tepid legality.” The administration is hardly making the effort to pretend its actions are legal.

That doesn’t mean it isn’t lying. It lies constantly, and the official rationale for its Venezuela blockade is a lie — there is no evidence the boats it bombs were smuggling drugs, nor that the Venezuelan oil industry has any connection to the drug trade, nor even of the existence of the so-called Cartel de los Soles that it alleges Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro heads.

But just as when, during his first term, Trump embarrassed his Nato allies by admitting Western militaries were in Syria “only for the oil,” the president’s online rants show the same is true for Venezuela.

…

Article continues at https://www.morningstaronline.co.uk/article/pirates-caribbean-sovereignty-law-and-donald-trump

Donald Fuhrump says that Amerikkka doesn't bother with crimes or charges anymore, not being 100% Amerikkkan and opposing his real estate intentions is enough.
Donald Fuhrump says that Amerikkka doesn’t bother with crimes or charges anymore, not being 100% Amerikkkan and opposing his real estate intentions is
enough.
Orcas discuss how Trump was re-elected and him being an obviously insane, xenophobic Fascist.
Orcas discuss how Trump was re-elected and him being an obviously insane, xenophobic Fascist.
Continue ReadingPirates of the Caribbean: sovereignty, law and Donald Trump

Euro-Med rights group says US cover enables Israel’s genocide and ‘slow death’ in Gaza

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This work by Middle East Monitor is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-ShareAlike 4.0 International License.

Pro-Palestinian demonstrators gather outside the United Nations headquarters, in front of the U.S. Mission to the UN, during an emergency picket titled “Hands off Gaza: Reject U.S.-Israeli Occupation,” in New York City, United States, on November 17, 2025. [Selçuk Acar – Anadolu Agency]

The Euro-Mediterranean Human Rights Monitor has accused the United States of providing political cover that allows Israel to perpetuate genocide in the Gaza Strip and impose a “slow death” on the civilian population.

In a statement published on Sunday, the Geneva-based organisation said US support has enabled Israel to maintain the status quo in Gaza, despite the catastrophic humanitarian situation. It argued that Washington has effectively made any progress towards a ceasefire conditional on the return of the last body from Gaza, a position the group described as “shameful complicity” in ongoing crimes.

The Monitor said such US-backed conditions contribute directly to continued ceasefire violations, the sustained siege, mass displacement of civilians, and the destruction of what remains of homes and livelihoods across the Gaza Strip.

It stressed that “the fate of more than two million people in Gaza should never be tied to political or military conditions that may be difficult, or even impossible, to fulfil on the ground,” adding that fundamental human rights must be guaranteed “immediately and unconditionally”.

The organisation said the scale of devastation in Gaza, combined with the systematic destruction of search-and-rescue equipment and emergency vehicles, has made fulfilment of Israeli conditions for progress on the ceasefire extremely difficult. It said these conditions are being used as a pretext to prolong the siege and deepen humanitarian suffering.

The Monitor added that US support for Israel in this context reinforces an illegitimate conflation between negotiation processes and guaranteed human rights. It said such rights must be implemented without conditions, compromises or political exploitation, regardless of the circumstances.

READ: Famine conditions offset in Gaza, but 1.6M to still face crisis-level hunger: IPC

This work by Middle East Monitor is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-ShareAlike 4.0 International License.

Vote Labour for Genocide.
Vote Labour for Genocide.
Keir Starmer objects to criticism of the IDF. He asks how could anyone object to them starving people to death, forced marches like the Nazis did, bombing Gaza's hospitals and universities, mass-murdering journalists, healthworkers and starving people queuing for food, killing and raping prisoners and murdering children. He calls for people to stop obstructing his genocide for Israel.
Keir Starmer objects to criticism of the IDF. He asks how could anyone object to them starving people to death, forced marches like the Nazis did, bombing Gaza’s hospitals and universities, mass-murdering journalists, healthworkers and starving people queuing for food, killing and raping prisoners and murdering children. He calls for people to stop obstructing his genocide for Israel.
Orcas discuss Genocide-supporting and complicit Zionists. Donald Trump, Keith Starmer, David Lammy, Rachel Reeves, Angela Rayner and Wes Streeting are acknowledged as evil genocide-complicit and supporting cnuts.
Orcas discuss Genocide-supporting and complicit Zionists. Donald Trump, Keith Starmer, David Lammy, Rachel Reeves, Angela Rayner and Wes Streeting are acknowledged as evil genocide-complicit and supporting cnuts.

Continue ReadingEuro-Med rights group says US cover enables Israel’s genocide and ‘slow death’ in Gaza

Report accuses Israeli army of backing settler attacks against Palestinians in occupied West Bank

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This work by Middle East Monitor is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-ShareAlike 4.0 International License.

Dozens of Israeli settlers from the Kiryat Arba settlement, built on Palestinian land in the southern West Bank, raid the Kayzun area east of Hebron, accompanied by a demonstration, with Israeli flags waved and racist slogans shouted at the local population on December 10, 2025. [Wisam Hashlamoun – Anadolu Agency]

The Israeli settlement watchdog Peace Now has called for the dismissal of the Israeli army’s Central Command chief, accusing him of supporting settler attacks against Palestinians in the occupied West Bank.

In a statement, Peace Now demanded the removal of Major General Avi Bluth, who oversees the Central Command responsible for the West Bank, explaining that he acts as a representative of the “Hilltop Youth” settler group. The movement described the group as responsible for attacks on Palestinian civilians and the seizure of their land following forced displacement, in order to establish illegal settlement outposts.

Lior Amichai, the director general of Peace Now, said Bluth was cooperating with settlers and called on Israeli Chief of Staff Eyal Zamir to dismiss him immediately.

The call followed the broadcast of an investigative report on the programme Zman Emet on Israeli public broadcaster Kan 11, which examined the establishment of new hilltop settlement outposts in the West Bank.

Amichai said Bluth had “effectively turned the Israeli army into an auxiliary force for establishing illegal Jewish terrorist outposts throughout the occupied territories”.

He described the commander as “a representative of the ‘Hilltop Youth’ terrorist group in an IDF uniform”, urging the army chief to “act without delay and terminate Bluth’s command immediately”.

According to the investigation, evidence was uncovered pointing to coordination and cooperation between Bluth and the founders of the settlement outposts.

Israeli army plans to arm 10,000 reserve soldiers at home: Media

This work by Middle East Monitor is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-ShareAlike 4.0 International License.

Vote Labour for Genocide.
Vote Labour for Genocide.
Keir Starmer objects to criticism of the IDF. He asks how could anyone object to them starving people to death, forced marches like the Nazis did, bombing Gaza's hospitals and universities, mass-murdering journalists, healthworkers and starving people queuing for food, killing and raping prisoners and murdering children. He calls for people to stop obstructing his genocide for Israel.
Keir Starmer objects to criticism of the IDF. He asks how could anyone object to them starving people to death, forced marches like the Nazis did, bombing Gaza’s hospitals and universities, mass-murdering journalists, healthworkers and starving people queuing for food, killing and raping prisoners and murdering children. He calls for people to stop obstructing his genocide for Israel.
Orcas discuss Genocide-supporting and complicit Zionists. Donald Trump, Keith Starmer, David Lammy, Rachel Reeves, Angela Rayner and Wes Streeting are acknowledged as evil genocide-complicit and supporting cnuts.
Orcas discuss Genocide-supporting and complicit Zionists. Donald Trump, Keith Starmer, David Lammy, Rachel Reeves, Angela Rayner and Wes Streeting are acknowledged as evil genocide-complicit and supporting cnuts.

Continue ReadingReport accuses Israeli army of backing settler attacks against Palestinians in occupied West Bank

Israeli army plans to arm 10,000 reserve soldiers at home: Media

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This work by Middle East Monitor is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-ShareAlike 4.0 International License.

Israeli soldiers block roads and restrict Palestinian movement as illegal Israeli settlers, under the protection of Israeli forces, carry out a raid in the Old City of Hebron in the southern West Bank on December 20, 2025. [Amer Shallodi – Anadolu Agency]

The Israeli army plans to arm about 10,000 reserve soldiers with firearms that will be kept permanently in their homes, a step described as a lesson drawn from the Oct. 7, 2023 events, local media said Sunday, Anadolu reports.

According to the daily Yedioth Ahronoth, the move focuses on Division “David” (96), a formation established about a year ago that relies on older reservists – typically ages 40 to 60 – who volunteer to return to service after completing their reserve obligations.

The soldiers “will receive an M4 or upgraded M16 rifle, magazines, a combat vest and a helmet,” delivered to their homes to enable immediate call-up to their battalion sector in the event of an emergency, the paper said. The weapons would be stored in large safes provided by the army.

“Rifles to be kept at home year-round, aiming to dramatically cut response times in future emergencies,” it added.

Under the plan, the reservists would wear uniforms only for several weeks a year, meaning the rifles would remain in their personal possession most of the time while they are civilians, according to the report.

READ: Israeli minister proposes keeping Palestinian detainees in facility ’surrounded by crocodiles’

Israeli military officials cited the Oct. 7 events as a pivotal lesson, marking a significant shift from prewar policy, when many soldiers, including combat troops, were barred from taking weapons home over concerns about theft or safety incidents during leave, the paper said.

Israel has about 400,000 reserve soldiers, according to Yedioth Ahronoth. Israeli military data show 923 officers and soldiers have been killed since the Gaza war began in October 2023.

The Israeli army has killed nearly 71,000 Palestinians, mostly women and children, and injured over 171,000 others in attacks in Gaza since October 2023.

Despite a ceasefire that took effect on Oct. 10, Israel continues to violate the agreement by failing to allow in the agreed quantities of medical aid trucks, deepening what the health ministry described as a critical and ongoing health emergency.

This work by Middle East Monitor is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-ShareAlike 4.0 International License.

UK Foreign Minister David Lammy confirms that UK government and military are active participants in Israel’s genocides and that the F-35 parts that they suspended from supplying to Israel are instead simply diverted via the United States. He says see https://youtu.be/QILgUHrdWRE
UK Foreign Minister David Lammy confirms that UK government and military are active participants in Israel’s genocides and that the F-35 parts that they suspended from supplying to Israel are instead simply diverted via the United States. He says see https://youtu.be/QILgUHrdWRE
Keir Starmer objects to criticism of the IDF. He asks how could anyone object to them starving people to death, forced marches like the Nazis did, bombing Gaza's hospitals and universities, mass-murdering journalists, healthworkers and starving people queuing for food, killing and raping prisoners and murdering children. He calls for people to stop obstructing his genocide for Israel.
Keir Starmer objects to criticism of the IDF. He asks how could anyone object to them starving people to death, forced marches like the Nazis did, bombing Gaza’s hospitals and universities, mass-murdering journalists, healthworkers and starving people queuing for food, killing and raping prisoners and murdering children. He calls for people to stop obstructing his genocide for Israel.
Orcas discuss Genocide-supporting and complicit Zionists. Donald Trump, Keith Starmer, David Lammy, Rachel Reeves, Angela Rayner and Wes Streeting are acknowledged as evil genocide-complicit and supporting cnuts.
Orcas discuss Genocide-supporting and complicit Zionists. Donald Trump, Keith Starmer, David Lammy, Rachel Reeves, Angela Rayner and Wes Streeting are acknowledged as evil genocide-complicit and supporting cnuts.

Continue ReadingIsraeli army plans to arm 10,000 reserve soldiers at home: Media