The President's Daily Brief PDB Afternoon Bulletin | December 18th, 2025: Venezuela Sends Warships to Challenge U.S. Naval Blockade & Colombia Cartel Labeled Terrorists
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Dec 18, 2025 Tensions escalate in the Caribbean as Venezuela sends naval escorts for oil tankers amidst a U.S. blockade, signaling a potential military confrontation. Meanwhile, the U.S. designates Colombia's Clan del Golfo cartel as a terrorist organization, paving the way for intensified military action against this violent group. The implications of these developments affect regional stability and U.S. strategies in Latin America, sparking debates on legal responses and diplomatic efforts.
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Naval Escorts Are Symbolic But Risky
- Venezuela's naval escorts are a symbolic escalation short of directly violating the U.S. blockade.
- The escorts change the dynamics by introducing state military forces near enforcement operations.
Sanctioned Escorts Force A Hard Choice
- A sanctioned tanker escorted by Venezuelan warships forces the U.S. into a stark choice between confrontation or losing credibility.
- Commanders pre-plan such scenarios because the decision has major political and operational costs.
Deterrence Then Carefully Escalate
- U.S. commanders prefer deterrence: shadow sanctioned tankers and pressure captains to turn back.
- If deterrence fails, options include legal seizures or disabling propulsion with extreme care to avoid spills.