U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio has decided not to attend NATO's annual foreign ministers' summit in Brussels, which begins tomorrow, December 3rd, 2025, marking the first time since 1999 that the U.S. Secretary of State will not attend. This announcement comes as regional tensions involving Venezuela remain high, with Copa Airlines continuing flights to Venezuela but only during daytime hours due to a high alert level, according to a report from Monitoreamos. Rubio's absence from the Brussels summit was announced today, December 2nd, 2025, by Visegrád 24. The decision to forgo the summit, which typically involves extensive diplomatic engagement on international security matters, occurs amidst ongoing U.S. military exercises and diplomatic pressure on Venezuelan leadership. Copa Airlines' operational adjustment, limiting flights to daylight hours, underscores the prevailing high alert status in the region, as reported by Monitoreamos via a buff.ly link. This development follows previous reports of heightened U.S. military activity and strong rhetoric directed at Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro. Earlier today, Donald Trump Jr. stated that President Maduro faces an ultimatum from his father, U.S. President Donald Trump, to leave Venezuela or face further consequences. Concurrently, U.S. Air Force strategic bombers were observed departing Nellis Air Force Base, Nevada, as part of an exercise. The USS Gettysburg also conducted a patrol in international waters north of Venezuela on December 1st, 2025. Venezuela has accused the International Criminal Court of neglecting its duties, labeling the situation as an attempt to justify "legal colonialism."
