International
Venezuelan President reiterates call to vote in referendum in defense of Essequibo
November 28 |
Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro reiterated this Monday the call to all Venezuelans to vote in the consultative referendum to be held next Sunday, December 3, in defense of the Essequibo.
During the broadcast of his program Con Maduro Más, the head of state indicated that Venezuela has a commitment with history, so he urged everyone to go to the polls and fulfill “the oath with the Homeland”.
“My vote, your vote is for everyone, it is for everyone, it is for Venezuela, for peace, for dignity and respect for our Homeland”, he emphasized, while assuring that the exercise of the vote means to confront the illegal maneuvers to strip Venezuela of what belongs to it.
Likewise, he urged the Venezuela Toda campaign command to deploy more forcefully throughout the country so that people know how to exercise their right to vote.
The head of state also highlighted the role played by the National Assembly in this process, which has led it to call a referendum on the issue for the first time in the nation’s history.
“The National Assembly did what it had to do, debated the issue, consulted on the issue and for the first time in the history of Venezuela, a consultative referendum is called to decide a unique position of the country on the Essequiba Guyana”, he stressed.
Previously, the President participated in an act at the “El Libertador” Air Base, in Aragua State, where he assured that “the hour of justice is approaching”, when referring to the consultative referendum to be held next Sunday.
In this sense, he specified that Venezuelans will have the opportunity to do justice and express their will.
The head of state pointed out that the Monroe Doctrine has endorsed the history of plundering sovereign nations, since it was dictated by John Q. Adams and attributed to U.S. President James Monroe in 1823.
“It was with the Monroe Doctrine that they executed the plan to cut off one of Venezuela’s arms, trying to take away the Essequibo and, currently, it is with the Monroe Doctrine that they intend to continue with their vassalage and plundering (…) But in life the time of justice comes and if we have had to resist unjust aggressions, threats and plundering, the time of justice will come”, he stressed.
The President recalled that the Monroe Doctrine reaches its 200th anniversary in 2023, so its essence must be denounced with rebellion and confronted in all “the fields we have to confront it because we are not and never will be slaves of anyone, slaves of the gringos, a colony of no one. Independence or nothing!
Likewise, he warned that “nobody should make a mistake with Venezuela”, since 31 years ago the men-at-arms of the South American nation said no to liberalism.
In Aragua, the Venezuelan President held a meeting with triple jumper Yulimar Rojas, called Queen of the Triple Jump, who in recent days supported the struggle for the Essequibo territory and urged Venezuelans to vote on December 3.
Regarding the audiovisual message starring Rojas, the President expressed that it is a “beautiful message”, in a Meeting with the Social Movements in Defense of the Essequibo.
“National union, union of the whole soul, of the whole conscience, union to consolidate peace, sovereignty and territorial integrity. A beautiful gift that you have given to Venezuela, Yulimar, see you soon, Yulimar!”, he stressed.’
The meeting with Rojas was attended by the first combatant, Cilia Flores, and other representatives of the Venezuelan government.
International
Bogotá and Quito Seek Dialogue After Tariffs and Power Cut Escalate Tensions
Bogotá and Quito will hold an emergency bilateral summit next week amid recent developments that have strained relations between the two countries.
Tensions escalated this week after Ecuadorian President Daniel Noboa unexpectedly announced a 30% tariff on Colombian imports. Colombia responded with a reciprocal measure, imposing the same tariff on around 20 Ecuadorian products and suspending electricity exports to Ecuador.
Aware that electricity imports are critical to easing Ecuador’s recent energy crises, Quito further imposed a 30% tariff on the transportation of Colombian oil through its territory.
However, recent statements from the Ecuadorian government suggest that dialogue between the two sides has intensified in recent hours. Ecuador’s Minister of Foreign Affairs, Gabriela Sommerfeld, confirmed that active conversations are under way.
In Colombia, segments of the business sector have welcomed the prospect of negotiations. The National Business Council (Consejo Gremial Nacional, CGN), for instance, urged both governments to restore commercial relations, warning that the dispute “puts jobs and regional economic stability at risk.”
International
Trump-Era Defense Plan Prioritizes Border Security and Scales Back Global Commitments
The U.S. military will prioritize the defense of the homeland and the deterrence of China, while providing more limited support to its allies and elevating Latin America as a key focus of its agenda, according to a Pentagon strategic document released on Friday.
The 2026 National Defense Strategy (NDS) represents a significant shift from previous Pentagon policies, both in its emphasis on allies assuming greater responsibility with reduced backing from Washington and in its more moderate tone toward traditional adversaries such as China and Russia.
“As U.S. forces focus on defending the homeland and the Indo-Pacific, allies and partners elsewhere will assume primary responsibility for their own defense, with crucial but more limited support from U.S. forces,” the document states.
The previous defense strategy, published during President Joe Biden’s administration, described China as Washington’s most consequential challenge and characterized Russia as an “acute threat.”
The new strategy, however, calls for maintaining “respectful relations” with Beijing and makes no reference to Taiwan, the democratically governed island claimed by China and allied with the United States. It also describes the threat posed by Russia as “persistent but manageable,” particularly affecting NATO’s eastern members.
While both the Biden-era strategy and the Trump administration’s approach emphasize the importance of defending U.S. territory, they differ significantly in their assessment of the challenges facing the country.
The Trump administration’s NDS sharply criticizes the previous government for neglecting border security, arguing that this failure led to an “influx of illegal immigrants” and widespread narcotics trafficking.
International
Guatemala considers sending high-risk gang members to military prisons
Amid the escalating crisis in Guatemala’s prison system, the government is considering transferring high-risk gang members to military-run detention facilities, a move that analysts say could help address overcrowding and the lack of control in civilian prisons.
The debate has gained urgency following the killing of ten police officers by gang members, reportedly in retaliation after the government refused to meet demands made by Aldo Dupie Ochoa, alias “El Lobo,” leader of the Barrio 18 gang, which authorities identified as responsible for the attack.
Guatemala’s Minister of Defense, Henry David Sáenz, told local media that the possibility of relocating high-danger inmates to military brigades has not been formally discussed. However, he noted that the practice is not new to the Armed Forces and said it is something that “was already being done.”
One example is the detention center located within the Mariscal Zavala Military Brigade, in Zone 17 of Guatemala City, where several inmates are held under military supervision. The facility also houses high-profile detainees, including former official Eduardo Masaya, who faces corruption charges.
In 2015, a ministerial agreement authorized the establishment of the Zone Seventeen Detention Center within the brigade, with a maximum capacity of 114 inmates in Area A and 21 in Area B. The agreement specified that the facility would be used exclusively for civilians or military personnel considered at risk of assassination.
Additionally, since 2010, a prison has operated within the Matamoros Barracks in Zone 1 of Guatemala City, holding dangerous or high-profile inmates. However, media outlets have described these military detention centers as “VIP prisons,” particularly for former government officials such as ex-president Otto Pérez Molina.
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