INTERNACIONAL
Airlines pull Venezuela flights amid safety warning, as Trump ratchets up pressure on Maduro
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Several major airlines have pulled Venezuelan flights following a U.S. aviation safety warning, disrupting travel to the country and as the Trump administration escalates pressure on President Nicolás Maduro.
According to Reuters, at least three airlines, Brazil’s Gol, Colombia’s Avianca, and TAP Air Portugal, canceled departures from Caracas Saturday, with other international carriers making changes through Monday.
The flight disruption also impacted the U.K. and Europe, coinciding with the administration’s decision to designate the Venezuelan group known as the Cartel de los Soles, as a foreign terrorist organization.
TRUMP’S STRIKE ON CARTEL VESSEL OFF VENEZUELA SENDS WARNING TO MADURO: ‘NO SANCTUARY’
The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) warned airlines about flying over Venezuela, issuing a notice urging them to «exercise caution» due to the «potentially hazardous situation» in the region. (AP Photo/Seth Wenig, File)
TAP said its flight decision followed U.S. advisories indicating that safety could not be guaranteed, Reuters reported.
Spain’s Iberia said it would suspend flights to Caracas starting Monday «until further notice,» though its Saturday service to Madrid operated as planned, per the report.
Copa Airlines and Wingo continued operations, while LATAM canceled its Sunday Bogotá-bound flight.
The airline changes primarily came after the U.S. Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) issued a warning to aircraft operating in or over Venezuelan airspace.
TRUMP ENDS VENEZUELA TALKS, MILITARY OPTIONS LOOM, NEW REPORT
American Airlines plane sits on the tarmac at Simon Bolivar International Airport in Maiquetia, Venezuela. (AP)
As reported by Fox News Digital, the FAA had warned airlines Nov. 22, about flying over Venezuela, issuing a notice urging them to «exercise caution» due to the «potentially hazardous situation» in the region.
The advisory comes as the U.S. has significantly increased its military presence across the Caribbean deploying bombers, warships, and Marines as part of a campaign targeting drug-trafficking operating near the region and airstrikes on suspected drug-smuggling vessels.
On Monday, the State Department went on to formally announce the designation of the Cartel de los Soles in the Federal Register.
MARCO RUBIO SAYS NICOLÁS MADURO’S CARTEL DE LOS SOLES TO BE DESIGNATED A TERRORIST ORGANIZATION
USS Gravely and several other destroyers have been deployed to U.S. Southern Command as the Trump administration takes on drug cartels and President Nicolás Maduro. (Getty Images)
The Cartel de los Soles, or «Cartel of the Suns,» refers to a network of government and military officials in Venezuela engaged in drug trafficking.
Secretary of State Marco Rubio had said in a statement last week that the Cartel de los Soles and other cartels in Venezuela were «responsible for terrorist violence throughout our hemisphere as well as for trafficking drugs into the United States and Europe.»
On Monday, European governments quickly updated their travel guidance. Germany warned that Venezuela’s situation remained «tense» and could deteriorate further.
Meanwhile, the U.K. advised travelers Sunday that flights were being canceled on short notice.
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«Some airlines have canceled flights at short notice,» the U.K. government advised. «If you have an upcoming flight to or from Venezuela, you should stay in touch with your airline or travel agency,» it said.
travel,venezuelan political crisis,airlines,narco terror
INTERNACIONAL
Venezuela’s Delcy Rodriguez replaces sanctioned loyalist defense minister with military intel head
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Venezuela’s acting President Delcy Rodriguez on Wednesday replaced a longtime loyalist military official, as she continues to make changes to her cabinet amid relations with the Trump administration.
General Gustavo Gonzalez Lopez, 65, will replace General Vladimir Padrino as defense minister, who held the position for more than a decade, Reuters reported.
In a Telegram post, Rodriguez thanked Padrino for his service and said he would be given new responsibilities.
MADURO’S SON GIVES ‘UNCONDITIONAL SUPPORT’ TO NEWLY SWORN IN INTERIM VENEZUELA PRESIDENT
Venezuela’s acting President Delcy Rodriguez waves after bidding farewell to U.S. Energy Secretary Chris Wright following their meeting at Miraflores Palace in Caracas, Venezuela, on Wednesday, Feb. 11, 2026. (Ariana Cubillos/AP)
Lopez was appointed by Rodriguez in January as the head of the presidential guard and the General Directorate of Military Counterintelligence (DGCIM).
Lopez, who is among several officials sanctioned by the United States and European Union for human rights violations and corruption, was appointed in January the new head of the presidential guard and the General Directorate of Military Counterintelligence.
TRUMP ISSUES DIRECT WARNING TO VENEZUELA’S NEW LEADER DELCY RODRÍGUEZ FOLLOWING MADURO CAPTURE
U.S. State Department «wanted» posters show Venezuelan Defense Minister Vladimir Padrino López accused by U.S. authorities of corruption and links to drug trafficking networks. (State Department)
He previously worked with Rodriguez as head of strategic affairs at PDVSA, the state-owned oil company, which she previously oversaw as energy minister.
Padrino had also been sanctioned by the U.S. over alleged drug trafficking and his support for ousted President Nicolas Maduro.
Despite the U.S. intervention, Venezuela’s repressive apparatus remains intact, the United Nations said last week. The government has repeatedly denied allegations of human rights and political oppression.
Vice President Delcy Rodriguez, left, smiles at Defense Minister Vladimir Padrino Lopez, as they take the route that the body of late President Hugo Chavez followed to his final resting place, during the activities marking the 10th anniversary of Chavez’s death, in Caracas, Venezuela, March 15, 2023. (AP Photo/Matias Delacroix)
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The United States recently restored diplomatic relations with the South American nation following years of heightened tensions between the two states.
venezuelan political crisis,south america,latin america
INTERNACIONAL
‘How do you sleep at night?’ Moreno slams ‘disgraceful’ shutdown leaving 260,000 workers without pay
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Sen. Bernie Moreno, R-Ohio, lambasted his Democratic colleagues for blaming Republicans for the partial government shutdown during a Congressional hearing on Wednesday, calling their behavior «disgusting» and «disgraceful.»
Moreno used his allotted time during Oklahoma Republican Sen. Markwayne Mullin’s confirmation hearing for the Department of Homeland Security Secretary to focus on the close to 260,000 DHS employees, which includes Transportation Security Administration employees, who have gone without a paycheck for more than a month.
«260,000 American citizen families who have not received a paycheck in over a month. None of those people are in charge of policy,» Moreno said. «It’s not one of those families that makes policy decisions. For the most part, that’s on the people here. There isn’t a single human being on this dais that has missed a paycheck. Every single one of us has gotten a paycheck the last 30 days and before that.»
‘YOU CAN CRY ABOUT IT’: TEMPERS FLARE IN SENATE AS DHS SHUTDOWN DEBATE ERUPTS, STALEMATE DIGS DEEPER
Sen. Bernie Moreno, R-Ohio, delivers remarks during a Congressional hearing on the nomination of Sen. Markwayne Mullin, R-Okla., as Secretary of Homeland Security. (Chip Somodevilla/Getty Images)
Moreno argued that the real victims of the government shutdown are DHS employees.
«They’re having to tell their kids they can’t send them to dance recital because they did everything right in life except got a job with the Department of Homeland Security so that a politician can make a 30-second video online to fundraiser for the next election,» he said.
«That’s disgusting.»
Weeks ago, Sen. Cory Booker, D-N.J., posted a video on social media vowing to vote against funding DHS until reforms are made to the agency.
CORNYN CLASHES WITH PROGRESSIVE REP GREG CASAR IN HEATED AIRPORT FACE-OFF OVER DHS SHUTDOWN
Moreno then turned his attention toward Homeland Security & Governmental Affairs ranking member Gary Peters, D-Mich., accusing him of failing to keep his promise of keeping key agencies funded. But Peters wasn’t paying attention. Moreno called it «incredibly disrespectful» before laying in on Peters.
«You said you’re going to fund all these agencies,» Moreno said to Peters. «Here’s one that you haven’t funded.»
Moreno showcased a large poster board, which shared how the mission of DHS was being compromised by the government shutdown. At the top of the board was listed U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services.
Sens. Rand Paul, R-Ky., and Gary Peters, D-Mich., grilled Sen. Markwayne Mullin, R-Okla., during his confirmation hearing to become the next DHS chief. (Chip Somodevilla/Getty Images)
«USCIS is near and dear to my heart,» Moreno said. «That’s how I became a US citizen. We’ve defunded the agency that allows legal immigrants into this country. That is insane. Never hear the Democrats talk about that. 3,300 employees, trying to process legal immigrants. They don’t get a paycheck.»
He also railed against the defunding of Customs and Border Patrol and Immigration Customs and Enforcement.
«Are you suggesting that we not fund an organization that tracks transnational organizations?» Moreno rhetorically asked Democrats of ICE funding. «Be specific. When you say you don’t want to fund ICE, I want you to say the words ‘we do not want to fund 7,000 special agents that are in charge of stopping transnational criminal organizations, drug smugglers, and human traffickers.»
Sen. Markwayne Mullin, R-Okla., President Donald Trump’s pick for Homeland Security secretary, is sworn in before testifying during Senate Committee on Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs hearing, Wednesday, March 18, 2026 on Capitol Hill in Washington. (Manuel Balce Ceneta/AP Photo)
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Moreno’s comments during Mullin’s Senate confirmation hearing come a day after Senate Majority Leader John Thune, R-S.D., accused Democratic leadership of holding DHS agencies «hostage» amid negotiations for appropriations.
Fox News Digital reached out to Sen. Peters for comment.
homeland security,republicans,government shutdown,senate,politics
INTERNACIONAL
Amenazas de Irán y el petróleo Brent en precios récord: el análisis de un especialista en seguridad y defensa sobre la tensión en Medio Oriente
Juan Battaleme, ex secretario de Asuntos Internacionales del Ministerio de Defensa, advirtió en Infobae al Mediodía que la amenaza de Irán sobre las refinerías del Golfo ya disparó el Brent a 108 dólares y podría provocar una crisis global de abastecimiento.
En una entrevista durante el debate en vivo de Infobae al Mediodía, el analista internacional dialogó con Maru Duffard, Andrei Serbin Pont y el resto del staff sobre el cambio de escenario tras el ataque israelí a campos de gas iraníes y la reacción inmediata de Teherán.
“Estamos hablando de un Brent en USD 108,79”, precisó Andrei Serbin Pont al analizar la reacción de los mercados tras la amenaza iraní. La advertencia de Irán, que incluye una lista de blancos en Qatar y Arabia Saudita, forzó a evacuar y detener operaciones en varias instalaciones, según explicó el panel con datos de Bloomberg. “Varias de estas plantas ya están declarando que las están evacuando en preparativos para un posible ataque”, sostuvo Serbin Pont, lo que refuerza el riesgo de una interrupción mayor en el suministro energético global.
Battaleme destacó la paradoja del conflicto: “Irán dice: ‘Voy a atacar todas estas infraestructuras petroleras, el precio del petróleo sube’. Irán recauda más, porque no tiene el bloqueo petrolero en este momento. China paga más por el petróleo que le compra a Irán. Eso ya es una locura”. El impacto ya se siente en Argentina y el mundo, donde “aumenta el petróleo y no importa lo que hagas, te impacta”, remarcó Duffard. La logística nacional, dependiente del combustible, sufre la volatilidad del mercado internacional.
El panel abordó el uso de bombas penetrantes norteamericanas tras los recientes ataques a posiciones iraníes. Serbin Pont detalló: “Estados Unidos habría utilizado diferentes tipos de bombas penetradoras. Específicamente, se especula que podrían haber sido la GBU 72, que es una de las más avanzadas que se vienen desarrollando en los últimos años. Permiten atravesar por lo menos unos cinco metros de concreto en esta versión más avanzada”.
Battaleme profundizó sobre la capacidad destructiva de estos proyectiles: “La GBU 57A/B Massive Ordnance Penetrator es una bomba de 13.700 kilogramos que permite penetrar hasta 61 metros de concreto reforzado”. El ataque a campos de gas como South Pars demuestra la sofisticación del arsenal estadounidense y la carrera tecnológica entre potencias para vulnerar las fortificaciones subterráneas de Irán.
Consultado por la influencia externa, Battaleme explicó: “Irán está empezando a tener inteligencia de Rusia. Antes necesitabas diez misiles para pegarle a algo, ahora con uno o dos tenés más chance. Hoy Rusia le está proveyendo inteligencia satelital, le están marcando cuáles son los objetivos más rentables”. El apoyo ruso optimiza la capacidad de daño iraní sobre infraestructuras estratégicas, mientras la falta de una coalición internacional limita la reacción de Estados Unidos.
La situación se complejiza con la postura de China, principal comprador del crudo iraní. “China está activo a nivel diplomático, se aseguró de que lo que salga de Irán y vaya para China no se lo toquen los norteamericanos”, subrayó Battaleme. El panel recordó que, a diferencia de conflictos previos, Estados Unidos hoy permite que buques iraníes crucen el estrecho de Ormuz hacia Asia, para evitar una escalada directa con China.
Battaleme sintetizó el escenario: “La voluntad norteamericana es irse cuanto antes, terminar la misión. Trump está apurado porque lo corren los tiempos del Congreso. Israel defiende la supervivencia de su Estado. Irán, sobrevivir. Los países del Golfo, salvar la infraestructura petrolera. Podés terminar en la paradoja de que en una semana digan: Irán ganó, Estados Unidos ganó, Israel sigue bombardeando y los países del Golfo salvaron la infraestructura”.
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