Venezuela

How Venezuela Became America’s Next Battleground — And Why Iran Is in the Room

There has been no formal declaration of war, no vote in Congress, and no rousing call to liberate a people from tyranny. Yet one of the largest U.S. military build-ups in the Western Hemisphere since the Cold War is sitting a few miles off Venezuela’s coastline. Washington calls it a counter-narcotics mission. Caracas fears it is a slow-motion ...

As US Blows Up Drug Boats, Venezuelan Oil Sets Sail

While the American military blows up boats it claims are transporting drugs from Venezuela, observers say tankers shipping Venezuelan oil in violation of a US embargo continue to navigate the very same Caribbean waters undisturbed. Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro has claimed a massive US military deployment within striking distance of his ...

Venezuela Says Us Military Exercises on Nearby Island a ‘Provocation’

Venezuela on Sunday blasted the arrival in nearby Trinidad and Tobago of a US warship as a dangerous "provocation," amid mounting fears of potential attacks against the Venezuelan mainland. The USS Gravely, a guided missile destroyer, docked Sunday in the Trinidadian capital Port of Spain for a four-day visit, which will include joint ...

Senate Panel Probes Hezbollah Links to Latin American Drug Trade

The US Senate Caucus on International Narcotics Control convened a hearing on Tuesday to examine suspected connections between Hezbollah and Latin American drug trafficking networks, as lawmakers warned of the group’s expanding footprint in the Western Hemisphere. Chaired by Senator John Cornyn (R-TX), the bipartisan session focused on ...

Trump Says Venezuela’s Maduro Offered ‘Everything’ To Ease Tensions

US President Donald Trump said Friday that Venezuelan leader Nicolas Maduro had offered major concessions to ease tensions with Washington and confirmed a new strike on a drug-smuggling vessel, which reportedly left survivors. Washington accuses Maduro of heading a drug cartel and has deployed significant military assets -- including stealth ...

Trump Indicates Approval of CIA Action Against Venezuela

US President Donald Trump indicated Wednesday he had authorized covert CIA action against Venezuela and said he was considering strikes against alleged drug cartels on land in the South American country. Trump's comments triggered outrage from leftist Venezuelan leader Nicolas Maduro, who decried "coups d'etat orchestrated by the ...

María Corina Machado Wins the 2025 Nobel Peace Prize

At 58, María Corina Machado became the first Venezuelan woman to receive the Nobel Peace Prize. The announcement from Oslo recognizes her steadfast and nonviolent fight for democracy in a country where opposing the government carries great risk. Born in Caracas in 1967, she is an industrial engineer and a graduate of the Andrés Bello Catholic ...

US Fighter Jets Flew Close to Venezuela's Shores: Defense Minister

Venezuela said Thursday that it had detected five US fighter jets flying close to its shores, adding to tensions with Washington, which has ordered a major naval build-up in the region. In a TV address, Defense Minister Vladimir Padrino said that Venezuela's air defenses and the tracking systems of the country's biggest airport "detected more ...

Venezuela's Maduro Ready to Declare State of Emergency Over US 'Aggression'

Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro said Monday he is ready to declare a state of emergency over the threat of US "aggression," following a spate of deadly US strikes on suspected Venezuelan drug boats. "Today the consultation process began...to declare a state of emergency in accordance with the constitution and protect our people, our peace, ...

Venezuela: Caracas Rocked by 6.3-Magnitude Quake Felt Over 600 km Away

A 6.3-magnitude quake shook northwestern Venezuela late Wednesday, following a slightly smaller tremor in the area, the US Geological Survey reported. The epicenter of the quake was at a depth of 14 kilometers (8.7 miles), 27 kilometers from Mene Grande, an oil town in a sparsely populated area of the state of Zulia. The most recent earthquake ...

Venezuela's Maduro Says He Wants Dialogue with US

Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro rejected US allegations of being a drug trafficker and asked President Donald Trump for dialogue, according to a letter released Sunday by Caracas, as tensions soar between the two countries. The letter addressed to Trump is dated September 6 and was sent days after the United States deployed warships off the ...

US–Venezuela: Drug War or Military Showdown?

In just two weeks, two Venezuelan vessels have been hit by US strikes in the Caribbean, ordered by Donald Trump. The ships were allegedly used to transport cocaine and fentanyl to the US. Three people were killed. Washington accuses Nicolás Maduro of leading a drug cartel and offers $50 million for his capture. In response, Caracas mobilizes ...