President Donald Trump commented on September 15th, 2025, at approximately 9:48 PM UTC that "We have noticed that there are no ships in the ocean anymore... I wonder why," in reference to U.S. kinetic strikes against "narcoterrorists from Venezuela." This statement follows President Trump's confirmation earlier in the reporting window, around 9:17 PM UTC, that the U.S. conducted a second kinetic strike, citing scattered "cargo all over the ocean" as proof. The U.S. Military Forces reportedly targeted Venezuelan nationals transporting narcotics. These events occur amidst escalating tensions between the United States and Venezuela, with Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro having declared on September 15th, 2025, around 7:48 PM UTC, that all communications with the U.S. were "completely finished" and "discarded." Maduro also intensified his rhetoric, labeling Secretary of State Marco Rubio "the Lord of Death and War" and Undersecretary of State Christopher Landau "Piche y Bandido." Businessman Alberto Vollmer denied reports of traveling to Washington to propose a "negotiated transition" in Venezuela, clarifying in a letter sent "today" that he did not meet with the State Department or American congressmen for such discussions. Secretary Rubio stated "today" that the U.S. "is not going to allow a poster to go through government within our hemisphere."
