In this episode of The PDB Afternoon Bulletin: Tensions are climbing in the Caribbean as Venezuela orders its navy to escort oil tankers in response to the U.S. blockade, raising the risk of a direct showdown with American warships and pushing both sides further up the escalation ladder. The U.S. designates Colombia’s Clan del Golfo cartel as a terrorist organization, a major shift that could open the door to expanded military and counterterror operations against one of the region’s most violent criminal groups.