"Thousands gathered at the Plaza Bolivar in Caracas on Wednesday night to attend a countdown concert ushering in the New Year, featuring lively performances and speeches from local officials. Footage shows visitors celebrating with traditional salsa, merengue, and other performances, as spectators cheer while the countdown clock marks the start of 2026. "Waiting for the New Year with a lot of optimism, because despite everything, despite the sanctions embargo, this year we had quite significant economic growth," expressed an attendee. "We always have a good time, always," another added. Politicians also addressed the attendees and offered prayers for the country's prosperity amid escalating tensions with Washington. "May this year 2026 be a year of peace," stated Head of Government of the Capital District (GDC) in Caracas Nahum Fernandez, adding, "2026 is the year of the challenge, the year of the great challenge to move our country forward." "A 2026 of challenges, a 2026 where we will all be united, working without letting our guard down, alert, attentive. You know the monster is lurking, but here we are in perfect unity," added Caracas Mayor Carmen Melendez, pledging to protect Venezuelan sovereignty. More than 2,500 personnel from local law enforcement were deployed around the Plaza Bolivar and the Historic Centre to ensure security for the event, according to local media. Venezuela's New Year celebrations come amid tensions with the US, as Washington increases its military deployment in the Southern Caribbean to combat drug trafficking and organised crime. On Monday, President Trump confirmed that US forces struck a 'drug boat loading facility' in Venezuela, marking its first kinetic strike on land. Venezuela had not commented on the strike but has repeatedly rejected US claims about drug trafficking, saying that the Trump administration was attempting 'regime change' with its military buildup, oil blockade and strikes on alleged 'narco boats'."