Putin Dispatches Naval Vessels.

Vlad "The Invader" Putin (taken from Vlad "The Impaler" Tepes) has officially stepped into the situation between America and Venezuela on the high seas. It seems the capture of Nicolas Maduro, who is now facing trial in New York, crossed a red line for Russia. Maduro and Putin are close allies, and Maduro's successor, Delcy Rodriguez, will be just as close with her Russian counterpart.

16 tankers presumably carrying Venezuelan oil, unless they turned about unwilling to face the American blockade, have got through the US blockade. The US will be hunting high and low for these vessels. Four tankers flagged under Panama, Belize, and the Cook Islands have been apprehended by US forces. One ship, called Bella 1, was going to be boarded by US forces, but changed course and renamed itself "The Marinera" . The ship also reflagged itself from Guyana to Russia. The crew are not silly, they knew there was a greater chance of Russian protection once they had reflagged as a Russian tanker. No disrespect to Panamanians, Guyanese, or Cook Islanders, but they do not have the naval muscle to escort or protect the tanker. Now, as said above, Russian warships are on their way to link up with the tanker and provide escort for The Marinera.

Moscow uttered a statement, perhaps as a hidden warning to the US in particular, that the West must respect the freedom of navigation in international waters. So what are we likely to see? Will we see action by US forces and Russian forces? Will the US Navy still try to stop the tanker even though it is escorted by Russian warships? What will the Russian ships do in response? Will there be verbal communication between the American and Russian vessels before action of any kind by either side takes place? We will have to wait and see; however, now that Russia has officially entered this crisis, the stakes are raised.

If you thought 2025 and the previous years have been a rollercoaster, as Reagan used to say, ironically, a man Trump admires, "You ain't seen nothing yet"!

2026, I think, for better or worse, is going to be a pivotal and dangerous year. We have the ongoing war in Ukraine with Russia, the situation in the Middle East, the situation in the Far East, and the crisis between America and Venezuela. With the US threatening Greenland, Mexico, Colombia, Cuba, and Canada. We could be looking at World War III, I kid you not.

If Trump invades Greenland, two things are going to happen. Either NATO rolls over and accepts that there is no way they can challenge the US, or, as the Danish Prime Minister said, "It will be the end of everything, including NATO". Could we see NATO or Europe collectively taking on the US to prevent an invasion of Greenland, which is an autonomous region of Denmark? Though located in North America?

The only countries that could take advantage of this situation are Russia, China, Iran, and North Korea. And does the West really want that?

Trump talks about running Venezuela, but he has only removed Maduro. The same regime, as far as we can tell, is still in power, with Delcy Rodriguez, a Maduro loyalist, succeeding him. She has called for the return of Maduro and his wife, calling the abduction of Maduro illegal. She has called the American attack on her country illegal.

It seems Venezuela is on lockdown, with forces loyal to the regime patrolling the streets of every town and city. Maduro loyalists have taken to the streets, pushing back against Trump. Will anti-Maduro forces dare to protest?

Many Venezuelans living abroad believed that with the departure of Maduro, freedom and democracy would return. However, their hope was dashed when the former regime, which is not former but very present, seems to be very much in full control.

What happens now in this crisis, now that Russia has officially entered the crisis, is only open to speculation.