Hello and welcome back.

Today, the Kremlin claims to have seized Pokrovsk, the RSF captures a major Sudanese military headquarters in Babanusa, and African leaders press for global recognition of colonialism as an international crime. 

In the Caribbean, regional states and US territories navigate a tense balance between strategic cooperation, national sovereignty, and the weight of historical memory amid mounting US pressure on Venezuela.

More details below ⤵️

Top 5 Stories

1️⃣ 🇮🇳 🇷🇺 Putin holds talks with Modi: President Vladimir Putin begins his two-day visit to India, aiming to shore up a flagship partnership battered by tighter sanctions on Russian oil and growing US pressure on New Delhi’s energy and arms purchases. Moscow is expected to push new deals on crude, fighter jets and air defence systems, while India seeks guarantees on spare parts for its heavily Russian-equipped military.

2️⃣ 🇮🇩 🇱🇰 Indonesia, Sri Lanka deploy troops amid climate catastrophe: Sri Lanka and Indonesia have mobilised military units to support rescue efforts after catastrophic monsoon rains and tropical storms killed more than 1,100 people across four Asian countries and left hundreds missing. Indonesia’s Sumatra has suffered the heaviest toll, while Sri Lanka has declared a state of emergency.

3️⃣ 🇻🇪 🇺🇸 Trump issues ultimatum to Maduro: Reports suggest President Donald Trump pressed Venezuelan leader Nicolás Maduro to step down immediately during a recent call, offering safe passage for his family in exchange — an ultimatum Maduro refused, instead demanding sweeping international immunity. While Trump confirmed the conversation took place, neither government has disclosed details. 

4️⃣ 🇭🇹 🇺🇳 Gangs tighten control over Haiti’s Artibonite region: Heavily armed gangs have overrun much of Haiti’s Artibonite region, killing civilians and torching homes in a wave of coordinated weekend assaults that forced residents to flee under cover of darkness. Local officials say half the region is now effectively under gang control, with police outmatched and UN-backed forces concentrated in Port-au-Prince, prompting desperate residents to call for weapons and threaten vigilante action. 

5️⃣ 🇬🇼 🇳🇬 ECOWAS delegation presses Guinea-Bissau junta to restore constitutional order: The Economic Community of West African States is pressuring Guinea-Bissau to push the junta toward reinstating constitutional rule after last week’s putsch, which followed a disputed presidential election with no results released. ECOWAS, like the AU, has suspended Guinea-Bissau from its decision-making bodies until elected governance is restored.

Major Story

🇩🇴 🇹🇹 🇵🇷 🇻🇮 🇬🇩 CARIBBEAN RESPONSES TO U.S. MILITARY PRESSURE ON VENEZUELA

Amid mounting U.S. military deployments in the Caribbean, ostensibly targeting drug trafficking networks but widely seen as preparing for operations against Venezuela, regional governments are responding with varying degrees of cooperation and caution. More than 80 people have been killed in U.S. strikes on alleged narcotics vessels, although Washington has provided no supporting evidence. The military escalation, paired with the Trump administration’s declaration of Venezuelan airspace as effectively closed, has intensified anxiety in Venezuela, where President Nicolás Maduro has mobilised troops and urged civilians to join defence militias.

Countries aligning with Washington

The Dominican Republic has emerged as Washington’s strongest Caribbean partner, granting access to restricted military zones at San Isidro Air Base and Las Américas International Airport. President Luis Abinader framed the agreement as temporary, technical, and focused on enhancing radar and surveillance to counter narcotrafficking, while also reaffirming the country’s close strategic bond with Washington.

Trinidad and Tobago has shown political support, with Prime Minister Kamla Persad-Bissessar backing U.S. strikes and confirming Marine presence working on airport radar upgrades and surveillance infrastructure. While supportive of U.S. counter-narcotics goals, she insists Trinidad will not become a launchpad for any attack against Venezuela.

U.S. territories as regional hubs

Puerto Rico and the U.S. Virgin Islands are playing increasingly prominent roles in logistical preparations. The reopening of facilities at Roosevelt Roads Naval Station and increased activity at Henry E. Rohlsen Airport suggest these locations are being reactivated as staging sites for aircraft and support operations.

Grenada’s cautious deliberation

Grenada remains undecided over a U.S. request to temporarily install radar equipment at Maurice Bishop International Airport, ironically named after the leader overthrown shortly before the U.S. invasion of 1983. Prime Minister Dickon Mitchell noted the historical sensitivities surrounding U.S. military presence and said technical and safety reviews remain unresolved.

Outlook

As Washington seeks to consolidate a coalition to counter Venezuela, Caribbean states are weighing strategic cooperation, national sovereignty, and historical memory. While several governments are quietly expanding military links with the U.S., none have openly endorsed offensive action against Venezuela, highlighting the region’s delicate balancing act.

Other News

1️⃣ 🇷🇺 🇺🇦 Kremlin claims capture of Pokrovsk: Russia says its troops have seized Pokrovsk, a major logistical hub in eastern Ukraine, along with Vovchansk in Kharkiv, with President Vladimir Putin congratulating commanders after being briefed by Chief of Staff Valery Gerasimov. The city, devastated by weeks of drone, artillery and air strikes, has not yet been confirmed lost by Kyiv, although Moscow has circulated footage of its troops raising the Russian flag.

2️⃣ 🇸🇩 RSF captures military headquarters in Babanusa: The Rapid Support Forces seized the Sudanese army’s 22nd Division headquarters in Babanusa after a prolonged siege, capitalising on SAF attrition, shortages, and the recent redeployment of RSF fighters following the fall of El Fasher. The victory leaves Heglig as the army’s final foothold in West Kordofan. 

3️⃣ 🇩🇿 🇨🇩 African leaders call for global recognition of colonialism as a crime: African leaders are urging the international community to formally recognise colonial-era abuses as crimes against humanity and to establish a legal framework for reparations, arguing that decades of exploitation and dispossession continue to shape the continent’s marginalisation. The push aligns with similar demands in the Caribbean, where governments are calling for full apologies, financial redress and the return of looted cultural heritage.

Weekly Updates?

Want weekly updates as well as daily?

Subscribe to our sister publication Geopolitics Weekly here ⤵️

Grow Your Audience With Us

Build your reach. Strengthen your brand.

We’ve helped brands, podcasts, and media organisations grow audiences using proven short-form video systems.

From scripting and editing to analytics and optimisation — every decision is driven by data, not guesswork.

Visit www.horizonatlasmedia.com to learn more.