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Venezuela

The Bolivarian Republic of Venezuela is situated on the northern coast of South America. Home to an estimated population of 29.1 million, it covers around 916,445 square kilometres which includes the Andes mountains and the Amazon Basin Rainforest. Its main export is oil. Venezuela was colonized by Spain in 1522 but continued resistance led in 1811 to it becoming the first Spanish American country to declare independence. A chequered political history followed which saw dictatorships rise and fall, as well as military coups.

Capital

Caracas

Head of State

President Nicolás Maduro

Head of Government

President Nicolás Maduro

Iran

Iran seizes foreign oil tanker suspected of smuggling fuel

Semi-official media cited few details but the news comes days after the US intercepted a tanker off Venezuela allegedly linked to Tehran.

13 Dec 2025 - 9:03PMvideocam

War and conflict

As I see it | Would the world be safer if the military were in charge of the US?

12 Dec 2025 - 8:30PM

Venezuela

Iran seizes foreign oil tanker suspected of smuggling fuel

Semi-official media cited few details but the news comes days after the US intercepted a tanker off Venezuela allegedly linked to Tehran.

.css-1m2rp1p{color:#34b8b5;}As I see it | Would the world be safer if the military were in charge of the US?

Tensions rise as US prepares to seize more tankers with Venezuelan oil

Tanker seized off Venezuela to be taken to US port, as threat of war grows

White House justifies targeting ‘black-market oil’ as Russia expresses support for its ally, Nicolas Maduro.

Hegseth’s G2 description for US-China ties ‘problematic’, House Democrat warns

House representative Raja Krishnamoorthi says term sidelines US allies and partners while making Beijing ‘coequal’ to Washington.

.css-sioo19{color:#c79a00;}Explainer | US-Venezuela tensions: how far will Trump go?

As tensions escalate in the Caribbean, the world waits for Washington’s next move.

Fugitive Nobel laureate Machado details secret US help to reach Norway

Nobel laureate breaks silence on months in hiding, detailing essential US support for her clandestine exit to Oslo to receive Peace Prize.

‘We keep it’: Trump says US seized oil tanker off Venezuela coast

Venezuela accuses the US of ‘blatant theft’ and ‘international piracy’ after US forces stormed a sanctioned oil tanker in the Caribbean.

Venezuela’s Machado urges global fight for democracy after Nobel win

The Nobel laureate, barred from travel and forced into hiding by her home country, missed the ceremony in Oslo to receive the Peace Prize.

Venezuela’s Machado will not receive Nobel Peace Prize in person

The Venezuelan opposition figure, who has been in hiding for over a year, will have her daughter accept the award in Norway.

Venezuela’s Machado defies warning, vows to attend Nobel Peace Prize ceremony

Caracas has said Maria Corina Machado will be considered a ‘fugitive’ if she travels to Norway to accept the prize.

Opinion | Welcome to a world where wars don’t end and sanctions don’t work

The age of ‘distributed multipolarity’ shows that superpowers alone can no longer dictate international affairs.

US admiral denies ‘kill them all’ order in Caribbean boat strike

Admiral Frank Bradley briefs US lawmakers on the September 2 Caribbean attack that did not initially kill all on an alleged drug boat.

China says it is working ‘with all parties’ to prevent escalation in Venezuela

Beijing’s outreach comes amid a US naval build-up and a rare phone call between Trump and Maduro.

With US warships near, Venezuela’s Maduro describes call with Trump

Phone call occurred amid a massive US military build-up in the region and deadly strikes on alleged drug vessels.

China unlikely to aid Maduro if US acts, but may benefit from fallout: analysts

Beijing condemns US pressure on Caracas but offers limited support, prioritising its economic interests and long-term gains.

Hegseth’s Signal use posed risk to US forces, Pentagon review finds

White House ‘stands by’ Pentagon chief Hegseth, who is also under intensifying scrutiny over US strikes in the Caribbean.

Cuba starts restoring power to Havana, as millions suffer blackouts

A failed transmission line connecting Havana to Cuba’s largest power plant in Matanzas triggered the morning blackout.

US pauses all immigration applications from 19 countries

The pause applies to people from nations that were already subjected to a partial travel ban in June.

Trump’s defence chief says he didn’t see survivors or watch second boat strike

A lethal follow-up attack on an alleged drug-carrying vessel has sparked concern about the legality of the strikes.

Trump says any country trafficking drugs into US could be attacked

In response to the threat, Colombia’s Petro says his nation destroys drug labs ‘without missiles’ and warns Trump not to ‘awake the Jaguar’.

Pope Leo urges Trump not to attempt military ousting of Venezuela’s Maduro

The first US pontiff spent long years as a cleric in Peru and is familiar with Latin America.

White House defends ‘double-tap’ US attack on alleged drug boat as lawful

US military operation on September 2 killed 11 people, including those who survived the initial strike, raising accusations of a possible war crime.

Trump confirms call with Venezuela’s Maduro as US military piles pressure

The revelation of the phone call comes as the Trump administration weighs its next steps in the Caribbean.

Venezuela airspace should be considered ‘closed in its entirety’, Trump says

The South American nation slammed the US president’s ‘colonialist threat’, and said his comments were incompatible with international law.

Peru declares state of emergency as fears of migrant influx from Chile mount

Presidential candidate Jose Antonio Kast warns undocumented migrants in Chile that they have 103 days left to leave the country voluntarily.

Trump spoke with Venezuela’s Maduro, discussed meeting in US, report says

The US has deployed the world’s largest aircraft to the Caribbean, sparking fears that it is seeking regime change in Caracas.

Is the US preparing to invade Venezuela, or sabre-rattling to make a deal?

Largest Caribbean military build-up since the Cuban Missile Crisis leaves observers guessing if the US show of force is a prelude to action or a threat.

As I see it | Would the world be safer if the military were in charge of the US?

Explainer | US-Venezuela tensions: how far will Trump go?