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US-Venezuela conflict

US-Venezuela conflict
The United States attacked Venezuela on January 3, 2026, abducted its leader Nicolas Maduro and his wife and placed them in detention in New York, in what was the most direct US military action in Latin America in nearly four decades.
Relatives hold a vigil calling for the release of their loved ones outside the Rodeo I prison in Guatire, Venezuela on Friday. On Sunday, a Venezuelan rights group ‍said 80 people considered political prisoners had been released. Photo: AP
Venezuela

At least 80 political prisoners released in Venezuela, rights group leader says

Alfredo Romero, director of Foro Penal, said more releases are likely and interim president Rodriguez will verify release lists with the UN.

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United States

Opinion | US disregard of international law must not be tolerated

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Donald Trump

Trump says US used secret ‘discombobulator’ weapon in Maduro raid

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Americas and the Caribbean

US kills 2 in first known strike on alleged drug boat since Maduro’s capture

The attack left one survivor, and the coastguard has been notified to launch search and rescue operations.

Footage posted by US Southern Command on Friday shows a boat moving through the water before exploding in flames. Image: X/Southcom
United States

Outside In | Why Trump’s Davos farce may come to be seen as a watershed

Whatever his motivations, he’s alarmed allies and made clear the old order based on a benign US is gone, even as his popularity slips at home.

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United States

Opinion | From Venezuela to Greenland, Trump is using US power to rewrite the rules

What troubles many is the inconsistency emanating from Washington. When power underwrites rules, principles become negotiable.

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Energy

US letting China buy Venezuela oil but not at ‘unfair’ Maduro prices: official

The US says it will control the Latin American nation’s oil sales indefinitely after seizing its leader.

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A statue of a hand holding an oil well tower stands near the headquarters of Venezuela’s state-run oil company PDVSA in Caracas, Venezuela, on January 13. Photo: Reuters
Venezuela

US says Venezuela’s interim president to visit as relations shift post-Maduro

Delcy Rodriguez says she’s approaching any US talks ‘without fear’ after a senior US official said she would visit Washington soon.

United States

Trump lays out Greenland-Arctic deal framework, pauses February tariffs

In his speech to the World Economic Forum in Davos, the US president vowed not to invade Greenland while slamming Nato and Europe.

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World Economic Forum (WEF) in Davos

Trump tells Davos US must have Greenland but won’t use force – as it happened

US president boasted close ties with China’s Xi, vowed not to invade Greenland and slammed WEF host Switzerland in overtime speech.

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US President Donald Trump attends the 56th annual World Economic Forum in Davos, Switzerland, on Wednesday. Photo: Reuters
Americas and the Caribbean

US forces seize seventh sanctioned oil tanker linked to Venezuela

MV Sagitta is the latest ship linked to Venezuela that the US has captured since early December.

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The US military’s Southern Command said it captured the MV Sagitta ‘without incident’. Photo: US Southern Command via X
Cuba

China sends emergency food aid to Cuba as US sanctions worsen shortages

First batch of rice arrives in Cuba under new Chinese programme while the island reels from abrupt halt in Venezuelan oil shipments.

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United States

Opinion | Why isn’t Trump learning from past foreign policy mistakes?

From Venezuela and Iran to Greenland and Canada, US interventions and threats risk spillovers and retaliation – as history shows.

Donald Trump

Diversify or die: Asian firms face trade uncertainty amid Trump’s Mexico threats

The president’s call for strikes against drug cartels in Mexico and Colombia will add to the cost of trading with the US, analysts say.

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Mexico’s Manzanillo seaport, a critical gateway for trade between Asia and the Americas, is seen in May last year after its expansion. Photo: Reuters
Venezuela

Opinion | Trump’s Venezuela raid a rude awakening for Russia and China

The US abduction of Venezuela’s president showed Russia could do little to protect its ally while China’s economic ties were put at risk.

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Russian President Vladimir Putin (left) shakes hands with Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro during their meeting at the Kremlin in Moscow on May 7, 2025. Photo: Pool via Reuters
Venezuela

Opinion | Why the US really wants Venezuela’s oil

To win the geopolitical contest, a country needs ample resources, a self-sustaining production system – and the backing of a wider economic bloc.

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United States

Before Maduro’s capture in Venezuela, US spoke with hardline interior minister

Some politicians in Washington have questioned why the US did not grab Diosdado Cabello during its operation to seize Maduro.

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Venezuela

How US actions in Venezuela and beyond could spell opportunity for China

Beijing is trying to present itself as a more responsible power, but analysts say concrete actions will be needed to win over its neighbours.

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US actions are fuelling fears that the Donald Trump administration is dismantling the rules-based global order. Photo: Getty Images via AFP
United States

US’ FAA warns airlines to ‘potential risks’ in Mexican, South American airspace

The warnings come a month after a JetBlue passenger jet almost collided with a US Air Force tanker plane near Venezuela ‌.

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China-Latin America relations

Counting China’s ‘swing nation’ wins and losses in new era of power rivalry

As US-China race for hi-tech resources heats up across Global South, countries caught in the middle are under pressure to strike a balance.

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Donald Trump

Machado says Venezuela will be free with support of Trump

The opposition leader earlier presented her Nobel Peace Prize medal to Trump in a bid to win over the US president.

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Venezuelan opposition leader Maria Corina Machado speaks at the Heritage Foundation in Washington on Friday. Photo: AFP
US-China relations

Tesla’s defeat, Harvard’s success, Beijing’s shock: 7 US-China relations reads

From China’s EV power to Hegseth’s new threat, here are highlights from the SCMP’s overseas correspondents in the first half of January 2026.

Practitioners perform martial art next to a BYD Sealion 7 electric vehicle at Singapore Motorshow on January 9. Photo: AFP
China-Latin America relations

Trump pick for South America command sidesteps China questions at Senate hearing

Lieutenant General Francis Donovan’s answers frustrated even Republicans in favour of a military-first plan to counter Chinese influence.

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Open Questions series

Open Questions | China wins if Venezuela ensnares Trump, Mearsheimer says

Maduro’s ‘kidnap’ and naked grab for Venezuela’s oil may leave US bogged down and less able to keep eye on China, political scientist John Mearsheimer says.

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Venezuela

Venezuela’s Machado says she ‘presented’ her Nobel Peace Prize to Trump

US president praises Machado for her ‘wonderful’ gesture as he warms to Venezuela’s new leaders.

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Maria Corina Machado gave her Nobel Peace Prize medal to US President Donald Trump during their White House meeting. Photo: The White House via Reuters
Cybersecurity

China-linked hackers ‘used Venezuela-themed phishing to target US agencies’

Swiss firm says Mustang Panda leveraged US-Venezuela tensions as geopolitical lures in a malware campaign against government-related targets.

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China and the US have in recent years increasingly pointed the finger at each other for conducting or sanctioning cyberattacks. Photo: Shutterstock
Donald Trump

Washington completes first sale of Venezuelan oil ‘in US$500 million deal’

The White House official, who did not identify the buyer, said additional sales could take place in the coming days or weeks.

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European Union

Opinion | An internally split Europe can never fully engage China and Asia

The Brussels effect is real but so is Europe’s strategic subordination to the US. For China, and Asia, this means proceeding with pragmatism.

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