October 12, 2025
In a stunning rebuke to President Donald Trump’s aggressive foreign policy, the Nobel Peace Prize committee has reportedly passed over the U.S. president in favor of regional peacebuilders in Latin America, citing escalating tensions and extrajudicial military actions in the Caribbean. The decision comes amid growing international concern over Trump’s rebranding of the U.S. Department of Defense as the “Department of War” and a series of lethal strikes on alleged narcotrafficking vessels near Venezuela.
Trump’s executive order, signed September 5, authorizes the use of “Department of War” as a secondary title across federal communications, with Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth now referred to as “Secretary of War.” The administration claims the change restores “maximum lethality” and signals a return to “decisive victory” over “tepid legality”. Critics argue the move reflects a dangerous shift in U.S. posture—one that prioritizes offensive force over diplomacy.
This shift has manifested violently in the Caribbean. In recent weeks, Trump has ordered at least three deadly strikes on vessels allegedly linked to narcotrafficking, killing 17 people. One attack targeted a boat Trump claimed was operated by Venezuela’s Tren de Aragua gang, though Venezuelan officials deny any such connection. The administration has labeled these cartels “unlawful combatants,” invoking wartime powers to justify the killings without trial.
Meanwhile, U.S. military buildup in Puerto Rico and the deployment of naval assets near Venezuelan waters have raised alarms across the region. Analysts warn that these maneuvers—coupled with Trump’s rhetoric about “armed conflict” with non-state actors—signal a creeping escalation that could destabilize the Caribbean and provoke a broader confrontation.
Venezuela, under President Nicolás Maduro, has responded with restraint, leveraging diplomatic channels and regional alliances to isolate the U.S. militarily and politically. The Nobel committee reportedly praised these efforts, noting that “peace is not merely the absence of war, but the rejection of provocation.”
The symbolic loss of the Nobel Peace Prize underscores a deeper failure: Trump’s “war of peace” has not only alienated allies but emboldened adversaries. As the Department of War sharpens its posture, the international community appears to be choosing dialogue over domination.
