International
NATO celebrates its 75th anniversary in the city and the scenario that saw it born
“If there is something certain today, if there is something inevitable in the future, it is the will of the peoples of the world for freedom and for peace,” the then president of the United States Harry S. Truman (1945-1953) from the now named Andrew W. Auditorium. Mellon of Washington, where NATO will commemorate its 75th anniversary.
It was April 4 and, when he articulated these words, the president was about to sign the North Atlantic Treaty, which established the international organization, in this imposing building of classical architecture in the center of the American capital.
After 75 years, the Atlantic Alliance gathers again this week in the city, in this case for the celebration of its annual summit of leaders in a Washington convention center. And they will also take the opportunity to return to the Mellon Auditorium that saw her born.
In that space that since 1987 bears the name of the American banker Andrew William Mellon, the heads of state and government of NATO, today made up of 32 countries, will gather this Tuesday.
Originally from Pittsburgh (Pennylvania), W. Mellon was born in 1855 and, apart from his important impetus in industries such as aluminum, steel and petroleum, he was an American ambassador to the United Kingdom and Secretary of the United States Treasury.
In addition, a collector and philanthropist, he helped build the National Gallery of Art of the United States, located a few streets from the auditorium that remembers him.
It was inaugurated by President Franklin D. Roosevelt (1933-1945) on February 25, 1935 and, since then, with its six Doric columns in the portico, it has been imposed in the historic center of Washington.
A few hours before the souvenir event, in the surroundings of the complex of government buildings of the Federal Triangle – of which the Auditorium is part – there is a tense calm, since the construction is located within the perimeter of control that the security forces have delimited for these days.
It is not usual that the important avenue that gives access to the auditorium can be seen so lonely and that, during the three days that the summit lasts, it will be completely fenced to prevent any unauthorized vehicle or person from crossing the established borders.
The presence of vehicles from the District of Columbia Police and the United States Secret Service on every corner shows that streets without traffic respond to the sharp increase in security measures.
At the time of the foundation, it was the flags of 12 countries that presided over one of the rooms of the Auditorium: those of Belgium, Canada, Denmark, the United States, France, Iceland, Italy, Luxembourg, Norway, the Netherlands, Portugal and the United Kingdom.
In the same auditorium, the start will be given to a summit focused on storpin support for Ukraine and with current challenges on the table, among which the Russian war in Ukraine or the conflict between Israel and Hamas in Gaza stand out.
“For us, war is not inevitable. Men with courage and vision can still determine their own destiny,” former President Truman said in 1949 with applause; in 2024, and from the same city, the partners have the opportunity to endorse that conviction.
International
U.S. and Mexico Reach Deal to Address Water Deficit Under 1944 Treaty
The United States and Mexico have reached an agreement to comply with current water obligations affecting U.S. farmers and ranchers and for Mexico to cover its water deficit to Texas under the 1944 Water Treaty, the U.S. Department of Agriculture said in a statement.
The department уточified that the agreement applies to both the current cycle and the water deficit from the previous cycle.
On Monday, U.S. President Donald Trump accused Mexico of failing to comply with the water-sharing treaty between the two countries, which requires the United States to deliver 1.85 billion cubic meters of water from the Colorado River, while Mexico must supply 432 million cubic meters from the Rio Grande.
Mexico is behind on its commitments. According to Washington, the country has accumulated a deficit of more than one billion cubic meters of water over the past five years.
“This violation is severely harming our beautiful crops and our livestock in Texas,” Trump wrote on Monday.
The Department of Agriculture said on Friday that Mexico had agreed to supply 250 million cubic meters of water starting next week and to work toward closing the shortfall.
Agriculture Secretary Brooke Rollins, quoted in the statement, said Mexico delivered more water in a single year than it had over the previous four years combined.
Trump has said that if Mexico continues to fall short of its obligations, the United States reserves the right to impose 5% tariffs on imported Mexican products.
Mexico’s Deputy Foreign Minister for North America, Roberto Velasco, said that a severe drought in 2022 and 2023prevented the country from meeting its commitments.
International
Several people shot in attack on Brown University campus
Several people were shot on Saturday in an attack on the campus of Brown University, in the northeastern United States, local police reported.
“Shelter in place and avoid the area until further notice,” the Providence Police Department urged in a post on X. Brown University is located in Providence, the capital of the state of Rhode Island.
U.S. President Donald Trump said on his social media platform Truth Social that he had been briefed on the situation and that the FBI was on the scene.
At 5:52 p.m. local time (11:52 p.m. GMT), Brown University said the situation was still “ongoing” and instructed students to remain sheltered until further notice.
After initially stating that the suspect had been taken into custody, Trump later posted a second message clarifying that local police had walked back that information. “The suspect has NOT been apprehended,” the U.S. president said.
International
Colombia says it would not reject Maduro asylum request as regional tensions escalate
The Colombian government stated on Thursday that it would have no reason to reject a potential asylum request from Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro should he leave office, as regional tensions persist over the deployment of U.S. military forces in the Caribbean since August.
“In the current climate of tension, negotiations are necessary, and if the United States demands a transition or political change, that is something to be assessed. If such a transition results in him (Maduro) needing to live elsewhere or seek protection, Colombia would have no reason to deny it,” said Colombian Foreign Minister Rosa Villavicencio in an interview with Caracol Radio.
However, Villavicencio noted that it is unlikely Maduro would choose Colombia as a refuge. “I believe he would opt for someplace more distant and calmer,” she added.
Colombian President Gustavo Petro also commented on Venezuela’s situation on Wednesday, arguing that the country needs a “democratic revolution” rather than “inefficient repression.” His remarks followed the recent detention and passport cancellation of Cardinal Baltazar Porras at the Caracas airport.
“The Maduro government must understand that responding to external aggression requires more than military preparations; it requires a democratic revolution. A country is defended with more democracy, not more inefficient repression,” Petro wrote on X (formerly Twitter), in a rare public criticism of the Venezuelan leader.
Petro also called for a general amnesty for political opponents and reiterated his call for forming a broad transitional government to address Venezuela’s prolonged crisis.
Since September, U.S. military forces have destroyed more than 20 vessels allegedly carrying drugs in Caribbean and Pacific waters near Venezuela and Colombia, resulting in over 80 deaths.
U.S. President Donald Trump has repeatedly warned that attacks “inside Venezuela” will begin “soon,” while Maduro has urged Venezuelans to prepare for what he describes as an impending external aggression.
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Several people shot in attack on Brown University campus
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