The interception of a flotilla that intended to break the Israeli blockade on Gaza, to bring humanitarian aid—at least symbolic—to the battered enclave, has resonated in Latin America, where leaders like Gustavo Petro have been very vocal in their criticism of the management of the bloody conflict by the Israeli side. The head of the House of Nariño ordered the expulsion of the Israeli diplomatic delegation from Bogotá and the termination—not just the suspension, at least according to the account of AP—of bilateral free trade agreement, while it is known that two Colombian citizens are participating in the initiative.
In Brazil, the student body mobilized to protest against the controversial action of the Netanyahu government, demanding that the Palacio do Planalto break diplomatic relations. "We want the Brazilian government to act with foresight to protect [us] and all those who were detained illegally and to break relations with the terrorist state of Israel," demanded a History student in front of the Palacio do Itamaraty, headquarters of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the South American giant.
A high-ranking official from the union bringing together Brazilian university teachers also called for identifying companies that may have links or that in some way end up channeling funds to the Israeli security forces. The influential Puerto Rican singer René Pérez, known by his stage name Residente, suspended days ago several stops of a European tour citing the aforementioned reason.
The Mexican Academy of Film Arts and Sciences also spoke out about the event, demanding the "prompt and unrestricted release of all the crew members," according to EFE. Outside of the governments of countries like the United States, Argentina, or Paraguay, there is an international consensus in calling for a better humanitarian management from Israel regarding the conflict with Hamas, due to the fierce famine unleashed in Gaza and the very high toll of civilian victims—particularly women and children.
Venezuela/US
Theater or not, the situation in the Caribbean remains tense after the deployment weeks ago of US forces off the coast of Venezuela with the declared objective of combating drug trafficking, which they associate with the Miraflores Palace, from where Washington alleges the so-called Cartel of the Suns is directed. Yet three deadly attacks against vessels that have set sail from the Paria Peninsula have been linked to the Tren de Aragua, also associated with Maduro, according to Washington's narrative.
"I denounce to the world the military harassment, the military threat from the Government of the United States against the people of Venezuela (...); I denounce to the world this situation which, I repeat, is nothing less than a provocation, but also a threat to our national security," said Defense Minister Vladimir Padrino referring to alleged flight operations near the Venezuelan air border by US combat aircraft. "We have never seen this deployment of aircraft. We know they are stationed in Puerto Rico, of the F-35 class, but to dare to approach Venezuelan territory (...) We are watching them, I want you to know. And I want you to know that this does not intimidate us," expressed the Chavista veteran military official.
President Trump says US is in ‘armed conflict’ with drug cartels after ordering strikes in the Caribbeanhttps://t.co/eZbR1NErHT
— Chicago Tribune (@chicagotribune) October 2, 2025
Demonstrating readiness and lethality: @USNavy and @USMC forces conducted training, including a live-fire exercise with naval weapons systems, in the Caribbean Sea. U.S. military forces are deployed to the Caribbean in support of the #SOUTHCOM mission, @DeptofWar-directed… pic.twitter.com/33wANxUOOk
— U.S. Southern Command (@Southcom) October 2, 2025
Regional news brief
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Honduras is working rapidly to meet the requirements of the strict European legislation on agricultural product trade, which prohibits imports of products coming from deforested lands or for which exact traceability to their origin cannot be practiced. "We are going into the territory to explain to coffee growers what they must do and guide them so that they hire, above all, young people, because they handle phones well, require little logistics, and can mobilize as reference points," said the executive president of the Honduran Coffee Institute.
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The so-called Generation Z is also causing headaches in Paraguay, where, similar to Peru and other regions of the hemisphere, they are discussing corruption and in particular the government of President Santiago Peña. Following reports of strong repression against the youth, the Paraguayan Interior Minister came out to defend the attitude of the security forces. "This time the Police acted as they should. Zero deaths, zero looting, zero fires. That said, eight police officers injured while fulfilling their duty," he stated.
This is all for today’s report.
