Secretary of State Marco Rubio is weighing in on Russia-Ukraine and Israel-Hamas peace efforts and defending the Trump administration’s increasing military pressure on Venezuela during a rare, end-of-year news conference.

President Donald Trump’s “blockade” of sanctioned oil tankers off Venezuela’s coast is raising new concerns about the legality of his military campaign in Latin America.

The U.S. military has amassed an unusually large force in the Caribbean Sea and the waters off the coast of Venezuela since this summer, when the Trump administration first began to shift assets to the region as part of its anti-drug trafficking operations.

The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services has unveiled a series of regulatory actions designed to effectively ban gender-affirming care for minors.

President Donald Trump is demanding Venezuela pay for assets that Trump says were stolen from U.S. companies when the South American country nationalized its oil industry years ago.

Some oil vessels are diverting away from Venezuela after U.S. President Donald Trump threatened a “blockade” of sanctioned oil tankers entering or leaving the South American country.

The House has rejected a pair of resolutions that would put a check on President Donald Trump’s power to use military force against drug cartels and the nation of Venezuela.

White House chief of staff Susie Wiles is criticizing Attorney General Pam Bondi’s handling of the Jeffrey Epstein case and broadly defending Donald Trump's second presidency in a series of interviews published Tuesday.

U.S. President Donald Trump's announced blockade on sanctioned Venezuelan oil could lead to shortages of food, fuel, and other basic goods in the Latin American nation.

President Donald Trump has delivered a speech where he discussed his achievements and touched on some of his agenda for next year and beyond.

President Donald Trump says he is ordering a blockade of all “sanctioned oil tankers” into Venezuela, ramping up pressure on the country’s authoritarian leader Nicolás Maduro.

The Trump administration has designated another Latin American drug cartel as a foreign terrorist group, increasing financial pressure on its members and opening the door to potential military action against them.

White House chief of staff Susie Wiles is criticizing Attorney General Pam Bondi’s handling of the Jeffrey Epstein case and broadly defending Donald Trump's second presidency in a series of interviews published Tuesday.

President Donald Trump’s top Cabinet officials overseeing national security are back on Capitol Hill as questions mount over the swift escalation of U.S. military force and deadly boat strikes in international waters near Venezuela.

Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth says the Pentagon will not publicly release unedited video of a strike that killed two survivors of an initial attack on a boat allegedly carrying cocaine in the Caribbean.

Silk Eyes races past Mr. Thunder at the top of the stretch, thrilling the crowd at a racetrack in Venezuela’s capital.

The Colombian government’s delegation in peace talks with the National Liberation Army or ELN has rejected an “armed strike” that the Marxist rebel group is conducting this week in response to the U.S. military’s naval buildup in the Caribbean.

The government of Trinidad and Tobago says it will allow the U.S. military access to its airports in upcoming weeks as tensions between the United States and Venezuela remain high.

A U.S. Navy admiral who oversees military operations in Latin America has handed off command responsibilities as scrutiny increases over the Trump administration’s deadly strikes on alleged drug boats in the region.

A Danish intelligence agency report has warned that the United States is using its economic power to assert its will and threaten military force against both allies and adversaries.

Chile is heading into a high-stakes presidential runoff defined by sharply contrasting visions of the country’s recent past and visions for its future.

Honduras’ governing LIBRE party experienced a spectacular collapse in the presidential election, going from more than 50% of the vote four years ago to less than 20% this time.

In a story published Dec. 12, 2025, about the U.S. seizure of an oil tanker off the coast of Venezuela, The Associated Press, relying on information from the Windward maritime intelligence firm, erroneously reported the name of a Windward senior analyst.

The U.S. has imposed sanctions on three nephews of Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro.

Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem has linked the seizure of an oil tanker off the coast of Venezuela to the Trump administration's counterdrug efforts.

The Senate has rejected two partisan health bills on expiring Affordable Care Act subsidies, essentially guaranteeing that millions of Americans will see a steep rise in costs at the beginning of the year.

President Donald Trump says the United States has seized an oil tanker off the coast of Venezuela as tensions mount with the government of President Nicolás Maduro.

Venezuelan opposition leader Maria Corina Machado was absent from the Nobel Peace Prize ceremony in Norway on Wednesday.

President Donald Trump says the U.S. has seized an oil tanker off the coast of Venezuela amid mounting tensions with the government of Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro.

Venezuelan opposition leader María Corina Machado has appeared in public for the first time in 11 months.

The U.S. military has flown a pair of fighter jets over the Gulf of Venezuela in what appears to be the closest American warplanes have come to the South American country’s airspace since the start of the Trump administration’s pressure campaign.

Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth says he's still weighing whether to release the full video of an attack on an alleged drug boat that killed two survivors.

A planned news conference by Venezuelan opposition leader and Nobel Peace Prize winner María Corina Machado has been canceled after a several-hour delay, a day before Wednesday's award ceremony in Oslo.

President Donald Trump is justifying the U.S. military's decision to fire a second missile in a heavily scrutinized U.S. attack on a boat in the Caribbean Sea.

Supporters of Venezuelan opposition leader María Corina Machado have demonstrated in several cities worldwide to celebrate her Nobel Peace Prize win.

President Donald Trump's administration says its efforts over the past week are meant to stop the flow of drugs into the U.S. and increase pressure on Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro.

The Trump administration has built up a fleet of warships near Venezuela as American forces keep blowing up small boats accused of smuggling narcotics for drug cartels.

President Donald Trump’s administration has come out with a new national security strategy.

The family of a Colombian man has filed a formal challenge to U.S. military strikes on alleged drug-carrying boats.

The U.S. has imposed sanctions on alleged affiliates of the Tren de Aragua gang.

The Pentagon press secretary has held her first briefing since most nonpartisan news outlets were replaced by friendly media representatives willing to accept new rules imposed by Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth.

U.S.-operated flights returning deported migrants to Venezuela will continue despite President Donald Trump’s assertion to consider the country’s airspace closed.

The White House says a Navy admiral ordered a second strike on an alleged drug boat in the Caribbean Sea and insists the September attack that has come under bipartisan scrutiny was lawful.

Lawmakers from both parties say they support congressional reviews of U.S. military strikes against vessels suspected of smuggling drugs in the Caribbean Sea.

Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro was once critical of English.

Poll workers have begun tallying Hondurans’ votes as the country moves to elect a new president only days after U.S. President Donald Trump intervened in a close race with an endorsement of one candidate and announced he would pardon a former president.

The Venezuelan government is accusing President Donald Trump of making a ”colonial threat” and seeking to undermine the South American country’s sovereignty.

Trinidad and Tobago's prime minister is backtracking comments where she asserted that no U.S. Marines were currently in the twin-island nation.

The president of the Dominican Republic says he has authorized the U.S. government to operate inside restricted areas in the Caribbean country to help in its fight against drug trafficking.

Top U.S. military officials are meeting leaders of Caribbean nations this week as the Trump administration has escalated its firepower in the region as part of what it calls a campaign against drug trafficking.

The United States' top military officer is visiting American troops in Puerto Rico and on a Navy warship in the region.

A federal judge has dismissed the criminal cases against former FBI Director James Comey and New York Attorney General Letitia James.

President Donald Trump’s administration has increased pressure on Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro by designating the Cartel de los Soles as a foreign terrorist organization.

International airlines are canceling flights to Venezuela after the U.S. Federal Aviation Administration warned pilots about security risks and increased military activity.

The Federal Aviation Administration has warned all pilots to “exercise caution” when flying in the airspace over Venezuela “due to the worsening security situation and heightened military activity.”.

Chileans face perhaps the starkest choice in the history of their country’s young democracy when they vote next month in a presidential runoff between hard-right José Antonio Kast and communist Jeannette Jara.

President Donald Trump isn't ruling out military action against Venezuela despite bringing up potential diplomatic talks with its leader, Nicolás Maduro.

President Donald Trump is indicating that he plans to meet with New York City’s mayor-elect Zohran Mamdani and says they’ll “work something out."

President Donald Trump says the U.S. “may be having some discussions” with Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro.

The U.S. military says its 20th strike on a boat accused of transporting drugs has killed four people in the Caribbean Sea.

The United States’ most advanced aircraft carrier is expected to reach the waters off Venezuela in days.

Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth has announced the latest in a series of strikes on boats accused of ferrying drugs, killing six people in attacks on two vessels in the eastern Pacific Ocean.

The U.S. Senate is drawing closer to ending the U.S. government shutdown.

Regina Garcia Cano was the reporter behind The Associated Press’ story that provided the first comprehensive account and identifies of some of the men killed in recent U.S. military strikes on alleged drug smuggling boats.

One was a fisherman struggling to eke out a living on $100 a month.

Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth has announced another deadly U.S. strike on a boat he said was trafficking narcotics in the Caribbean Sea.

Senate Republicans have rejected legislation that would have put a check on President Donald Trump’s ability to launch an attack against Venezuela.

Top Trump administration officials have briefed lawmakers on the growing U.S. campaign to destroy alleged drug-smuggling boats in the waters off South America.

It wasn’t so long ago that President Donald Trump spoke of building a legacy as a peacemaker.

A federal judge in Tampa has ordered the arrest of former Green Beret Jordan Goudreau after he failed to appear at a court hearing over whether he should be jailed for violating the terms of his release.

A briefing held only for Republicans in Congress on U.S. military strikes is drawing a fierce rebuke from a key Democrat.

Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth says the U.S. military has killed four people in a strike against a boat that was allegedly carrying drugs in the eastern Pacific Ocean.

The U.N. General Assembly has voted overwhelmingly to condemn the U.S. economic embargo of Cuba for a 33rd year.

Venezuela has suspended energy agreements with Trinidad and Tobago, calling the island nation's actions "hostile."

A U.S. warship has docked in Trinidad and Tobago's capital as the Trump administration increases military pressure on Venezuela and its President Nicolás Maduro.

Secretary of State Marco Rubio says Israel, the U.S. and the other mediators of the Gaza ceasefire deal are sharing information to disrupt any threats and that allowed them to identify a possible impending attack last weekend.

Venezuela’s President Nicolás Maduro says the U.S. is “fabricating” a war against him as the world’s biggest warship approaches the South American country, while moving to revoke the citizenship of an opponent who he accuses of egging on an invasion.

The U.S. military has flown a pair of supersonic, heavy bombers up to the coast of Venezuela.

President Donald Trump talks plainly, bluntly, often even coarsely.

Legal experts say U.S. strikes against alleged members of Latin American drug cartels are pushing the bounds of international law.

Venezuelan government officials floated a plan in which President Nicolás Maduro would eventually leave office, a bid aimed at easing mounting U.S. pressure on the government in Caracas.

President Donald Trump has confirmed that he authorized the CIA to conduct covert operations inside Venezuela.

Venezuelans in the U.S. are welcoming the news that opposition leader leader Maria Corina Machado won the Nobel Peace Price.

Venezuelan opposition leader María Corina Machado has won the Nobel Peace Prize.

Colombian President Gustavo Petro has proposed that Qatar could mediate to end the U.S. military presence in international waters near Venezuela.

The Trump administration hasn't provided evidence to lawmakers that recent U.S. military strikes on alleged drug-smuggling boats were justified.

Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro has asked Pope Leo XIV to help maintain peace in Venezuela.

Venezuela has warned of an alleged plan by extremists to attack the shuttered U.S. Embassy complex in Caracas with explosives.

Fishermen in Trinidad and Tobago are fearing that a U.S. military strike in the Caribbean could kill them and their livelihoods.

Cuba's top diplomat says recent U.S. escalations in the Caribbean are a result of Secretary of State Marco Rubio’s “personal” agenda against the region.

President Donald Trump has sent American warships to the waters off Venezuela and has boasted about strikes on alleged drug boats.

Colombian President Gustavo Petro has called for a criminal investigation against U.S. President Donald Trump and officials involved in recent deadly strikes on boats in the Caribbean.

President Donald Trump has returned to the United Nations to boast of his second-term foreign policy achievements and lash out at the world body as a feckless institution.

Venezuelan migrants are attempting a "reverse migration" back to South America after facing challenges in the U.S. Thousands have returned since immigration policies tightened under President Donald Trump.

Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro's YouTube account is offline.

A U.S. military strike on a boat off Venezuela's northeastern Caribbean coast has disrupted a flow of money that helps impoverished communities.

Venezuela's foreign minister says a U.S. warship illegally boarded a Venezuelan fishing boat in Venezuelan waters.

The U.S. government employs a sizable staff of 150 Venezuelans and spends upward of $6.7 million annually for upkeep of the shuttered American embassy and other diplomatic properties in Caracas, despite having broken relations with President Nicolás Maduro’s government in 2019.

As Donald Trump prepared to return to the White House, Republican Sen. Lindsey Graham encouraged him to send a message to drug cartels.

The United States has long relied on the Coast Guard and allies to interdict drug vessels through arrests and prosecutions at sea.