Nobel Peace Prize winner Machado stated that "to strike Venezuela is an act of LOVE," according to an X post by RT_com shared between 2:16 p.m. and 2:45 p.m. UTC on December 18, 2025. The post notes the host appeared confused by the remark. The statement was posted during a 29-minute reporting window amid ongoing US military activities in the Caribbean, including the sighting of USNS Supply at Muelle de Ponce in Puerto Rico earlier at 9:22 a.m. local time, as reported by @MichaelBonet8 citing @MT_Anderson and @WarshipCam. Russia's Foreign Ministry spokesperson Maria Zakharova stated between 11:46 a.m. and 1:15 p.m. UTC that Washington is escalating tensions around Venezuela and reaffirmed support for President Nicolas Maduro, according to the ministry's X post. Governments of Curaçao and Aruba announced earlier between 7:45 a.m. and 10:45 a.m. UTC that US aircraft will activate transponders during heightened military activities near the islands for civilian safety.
