Venezuela's foreign minister accused the U.S. Navy of illegally boarding a Venezuelan tuna boat in Venezuelan waters. 18 armed personnel from a U.S. destroyer reportedly remained on the vessel for eight hours before releasing the nine fishermen. The incident, which Venezuela calls a provocation, follows heightened tensions between the two countries, fueled by U.S. accusations of Venezuelan drug trafficking and the deployment of U.S. warships in the Caribbean. Venezuela asserts the boarding was illegal and an attempt to justify military escalation. The White House has not yet commented.

Prepared by Rachel Morgan and reviewed by editorial team.