By Tiana Cole | HGP Nightly News |
CARICOM: PM Persad-Bissessar Urged to Lead with Unity in St. Kitts
Trinidad and Tobago’s Prime Minister, Kamla Persad-Bissessar, is set to arrive in St. Kitts tomorrow for CARICOM’s 50th Conference. This marks her first appearance at the regional summit since taking office in April 2025.
- Bridge-Building Diplomacy: Former Foreign Affairs Minister Surujrattan Rambachan has urged the PM to act as a “regional stateswoman” rather than a combatant. “History remembers bridge-builders, not headline fighters,” Rambachan noted, emphasizing the need for regional stability.
- The Rubio Visit: U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio is expected to make a half-day visit to the conference. Analysts view this as a “reset” of U.S.-Caribbean relations following tensions over U.S. military operations in the Caribbean “Zone of Peace.”
- U.S. Priorities: The visit is expected to focus on countering China’s growing influence in the region and hardening the U.S. position on Cuba.
Venezuela: Cuban Security Exit as U.S. Pressure Mounts
In a significant shift for Latin American alliances, Cuban security advisers and medical personnel have begun a mass exit from Venezuela. This comes as Interim President Delcy Rodriguez faces intense pressure from Washington to dismantle the “leftist alliance” forged by her predecessors.
- Security Shift: Unlike the late Hugo Chavez or the toppled Nicolas Maduro, Rodriguez has entrusted her personal safety to Venezuelan bodyguards rather than elite Cuban forces.
- Casualties of Conflict: The Cuban government confirmed that 32 of its citizens were killed during the U.S. military operation on January 3, 2026, which resulted in the capture of Maduro.
- Dismantling the DGCIM: The exit signals the collapse of a deep security pact where Cuban agents were once embedded within Venezuela’s counterintelligence units to suppress domestic opposition.
Brazil: President Lula Opposes Maduro Trial in the United States
Brazilian President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva has sparked a diplomatic debate by stating that toppled leader Nicolas Maduro should face trial in Venezuela, not in New York.
- The Accusations: Maduro is currently in U.S. custody, facing charges related to a global cocaine-trafficking network.
- Sovereignty Concerns: Lula argued that Brazil cannot accept the capture of one head of state by another. “If Maduro has to be tried, he has to be tried in his country,” Lula said during an interview.
- U.S. Engagement: Lula plans to meet with U.S. President Donald Trump next month to discuss organized crime, drug trafficking, and a reciprocal proposal that Brazilian citizens accused of crimes in the U.S. be tried in Brazil.
International: Mexico in Turmoil After Killing of Cartel Kingpin ‘El Mencho’
Violence has erupted across several Mexican states following the death of Nemesio Rubén Oseguera Cervantes, the notorious leader of the Jalisco New Generation Cartel (CJNG).
- The Operation: Known as “El Mencho,” the drug lord was wounded during a clash with soldiers in Tapalpa, Jalisco, and died while being airlifted to Mexico City. He had a $15 million bounty on his head from the U.S.
- Immediate Fallout: Jalisco Governor Pablo Lemus has suspended public transportation and cancelled school as cartel members launched retaliatory attacks.
- National Response: President Claudia Sheinbaum praised the security forces and called for calm, stating that there is “absolute coordination” among state governments to restore order.
Closing Notes
From the diplomatic halls of St. Kitts to the volatile streets of Jalisco, the Americas are navigating a period of profound leadership transitions and security realignments.
I am Tiana Cole. Thank you for joining us for Monday’s Edition of the Regional News. Do have a peaceful evening.
