Venezula

Trump signals shift on Venezuela stance, says he may involve Machado

Trump praised Maria Corina Machado, saying that she is "an unbelievably nice woman" and reminded the press of her gesture to offer Trump the Nobel Peace Prize

US forces seize seventh sanctioned oil tanker linked to Venezuela

US military forces boarded and took control of a seventh oil tanker connected with Venezuela on Tuesday as the Trump administration continues its efforts to take control of the South American country's oil. US Southern Command said in a social media post that US forces apprehended the Motor Vessel Sagitta without incident and that the tanker was operating in defiance of President Donald Trump's "established quarantine of sanctioned vessels in the Caribbean. The military command did not say whether the US Coast Guard took control of the tanker as has been the case in prior seizures. The Pentagon did not immediately respond to questions for more details. The Sagitta is a Liberian-flagged tanker and its registration says it is owned and managed by a company in Hong Kong. The ship last transmitted its location more than two months ago when exiting the Baltic Sea in northern Europe. The tanker was sanctioned by the US Treasury Department under an executive order related to Russia's ...

Venezuela developments unlikely to impact crude oil prices: Crisil

Crisil Ratings on Tuesday said that recent developments in Venezuela are not likely to have any material near-term impact on crude oil prices, as the Latin American nation had a relatively small share of global supply. A US military operation in early January resulted in the capture of President Nicolas Maduro on drug-related charges, triggering uncertainty in the country, which holds some of the world's largest proven crude reserves. Crisil Ratings, in a note, said even if the situation escalates and disrupts crude oil production in Venezuela, the impact on global oil prices would likely be limited, as the country accounts for only about 1.5 per cent of global crude supply. Brent crude prices have remained largely stable in recent days, hovering just above USD 60 a barrel. For India, the developments in Venezuela are unlikely to have any material impact on its global trade or the credit quality of Indian companies. India's direct trade exposure to Venezuela is minimal, it ...

Trump describes himself as acting Prez of Venezuela, claims oil control

US President Donald Trump has posted a photo of himself on his social media site Truth Social with his designation listed as "Acting President of Venezuela." The post on Truth Social on Sunday has Trump's official portrait and then the designation Acting President of Venezuela, Incumbent January 2026. It also has his designation as the 45th and 47th President of the United States, who assumed office on January 20, 2025. Earlier this month, the US carried out a large-scale" strike against Venezuela, capturing the country's leader, Nicolas Maduro, who, along with his wife Cilia Flores, was flown to New York, where they were indicted on narco-terrorism conspiracy charges. Trump has said that the US will "run Venezuela "until such time as we can do a safe, proper and judicious transition. We can't take a chance that someone else takes over Venezuela who doesn't have the interests of Venezuelans in mind." Venezuela's vice president and oil minister, Delcy Rodriguez, was formally sworn

Venezuelans across Latin America warily watch what follows Maduro's capture

Almost immediately after US forces deposed Venezuela's president, officials from Washington to Lima, Peru, began encouraging some of the 8 million Venezuelans who have scattered themselves across the Americas over more than a decade to go home. But that idea had not even crossed the mind of Yanelis Torres. The 22-year-old graphic designer was too busy printing T-shirts with images of captured former Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro overlaid with phrases like Game Over. Her clients in Lima's largest textile market were snatching them up within hours of the news of Maduro's downfall. Settled or undocumented, many of the millions of Venezuelans spread across Latin America received news of Maduro's capture with joy, but also caution, especially after hearing US President Donald Trump say that he would work with Maduro's vice president, now interim President Delcy Rodriguez, rather than the opposition. Despite leaders in Peru and Chile echoing US suggestions to return to Venezuela, th

'Hope they never forget': Trump as Venezuela frees political prisoners

In a post on Truth Social, he said that the Venezuelan political prisoners got 'lucky' as the US intervened and expedited the process

Venezuela frees political prisoners as govt vows to 'rescue' Maduro

Venezuelan authorities released at least seven people, including Virgilio Laverde, youth coordinator for Machado's Vente Venezuela party in the southern state of Bolívar

Trump signs executive order meant to protect money from Venezuelan oil

US President Donald Trump's new executive order on Venezuelan oil revenue is meant to ensure that the money remains protected from being used in judicial proceedings. The executive order, made public on Saturday, says if the funds were to be seized for such use, it could undermine critical US efforts to ensure economic and political stability in Venezuela. The order comes amid caution from top oil company executives that the tumult and instability in Venezuela could make the country less attractive for private investment and rebuilding. If we look at the commercial constructs and frameworks in place today in Venezuela, today it's uninvestable, said Darren Woods, CEO of ExxonMobil, the largest US oil company, during a meeting convened by Trump with oil executives on Friday. During the session, Trump tried to assuage the concerns of the oil companies and said the executives would be dealing directly with the US, rather than the Venezuelan government. Venezuela has a history of state

Why Venezuela-style strike on Taiwan's leader could prove tricky for China

In Taiwan, they say, China's military has an adversary which has prepared for years against a "decapitation operation" on its leaders, besides extensive air defences and radar capabilities

Venezuela frees significant number of prisoners as gesture to 'seek peace'

Venezuela is releasing a significant number of citizens and foreigners from its prisons in a decision that the head of the country's legislature described Thursday as a gesture to seek peace less than a week after former President Nicols Maduro was captured by US forces to face federal drug-trafficking charges in New York. Jorge Rodrguez, brother of acting President Delcy Rodrguez and head of the National Assembly, did not specify who they would be releasing or how many people would be released. But he said the release of prisoners is happening right now. The Spanish government announced Thursday the release of five Spanish citizens in Caracas. While the embassy is coordinating their return to Spain, officials have not yet specified a departure date. The Penal Forum, a human rights organisation in Venezuela, said that as of December 29, 2025, there were 863 people detained in Venezuela for political reasons. In a post on X, director of the forum, Alfredo Romero, said the liberations

Trump lays out a vision of power restrained only by 'my own morality'

On topic after topic, President Trump made clear that he would be the arbiter of any limits to his authorities, not international law or treaties

US unveils strategy on Venezuelan oil, triggering rush for access

The return of Venezuelan barrels to US buyers could mark one of the most significant shifts in global energy markets in recent years

Trump opens new front against China with brazen arrest of Nicolás Maduro

Codified in the White House's National Security Strategy released last month, the plan asserts a unilateral US right to deny rival powers the ability to own or control "strategically vital assets

Venezuela to now purchase only American-made products, says Trump

US President said that the purchases would include American agri products, medicines, medical devices and equipment to improve the electric grid and energy facilities, amongst other things

What's happening in Venezuela after Nicolas Maduro's capture by US forces?

Venezuela is tense after US forces captured Nicolas Maduro; journalists were detained, emergency rules imposed, and Washington has announced plans linked to Venezuelan oil

Capture of Venezuelan Prez shows arrogance of US imperialism: Kerala CM

Kerala Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan on Wednesday said the capture of Venezuelan president Nicolas Maduro by US forces was a "threat" to the survival of democratic nations in the world and showed the "arrogance and audacity of American imperialism". Vijayan referred to the recent capture of Maduro and his wife by US forces while speaking after inaugurating the 4th edition of the Kerala Legislative Assembly International Book Festival (KILBF) here. The CM said it was something "unheard of" in the modern world and showed the arrogance and audacity of American imperialism, which was a challenge to all the nations around the globe. He said that such actions by the US will not end with what happened in Venezuela as American President Donald Trump has "arrogantly" announced that similar steps will take place against Cuba and Greenland as well. "This is a new phase of American imperialism where countries not aligning with the interests of the US are being targeted for destruction," he .

Protest-hit Iran watches US after Venezuela raid, fears broader threat

Iran faces a new round of protests challenging the country's theocracy, but it seems like the only thing people there want to talk about is half a world away: Venezuela. Since the US military seized Venezuelan President Nicols Maduro, a longtime ally of Tehran, over the weekend, Iranian state media headlines and officials have condemned the operation. In the streets and even in some official conversations, however, there's a growing question over whether a similar mission could target the Islamic Republic's top officials including the supreme leader, 86-year-old Ayatollah Ali Khamenei. The paranoia feeds into wider worries among Iranians. Many fear that close US ally Israel will target Iran again as it did during the 12-day war it launched against Tehran in June. Israel killed a slew of top military officials and nuclear scientists, and the US bombed Iranian nuclear enrichment sites. Khamenei is believed to have gone into hiding for his protection. God bless our leader, we should be

Trump admin tells Venezuela to cut ties with China, Russia, Iran: Report

Washington is pressuring Rodríguez to force out spies and military personnel from those countries, although some diplomats would be allowed to stay

Trump to meet oil executives in bid for Venezuela's output revival

The parties have discussed a possible meeting Thursday or Friday that would include Trump, Energy Secretary Chris Wright and Interior Secretary Doug Burgum

I will get impeached: Trump reveals midterm poll anxieties to Republicans

Trump acknowledged the historical pattern of incumbent parties losing seats in midterm elections and expressed concern about public dissatisfaction with his leadership and the economy