# Venezuela
Latest news and articles about Venezuela
Total: 34 articles found
Maximum Pressure 2.0: Trump Signals Cuba is Next on Washington’s Target List
President Trump has issued a fresh warning to Cuba, suggesting the island nation will be the next focus of U.S. foreign policy after the Iran issue is resolved. This escalation follows recent military and economic pressures applied to Venezuela and a tightening of the decades-old embargo.
Sovereignty in the Dock: New York Court Rejects Maduro’s Bid to Dismiss Narco-Trafficking Charges
A New York federal judge has denied Nicolás Maduro’s motion to dismiss drug charges, rejecting the argument that U.S. sanctions prevent a fair legal defense. The decision moves the embattled Venezuelan leader closer to a high-stakes trial following his controversial seizure by U.S. forces in January.
Venezuela Replaces Long-Serving Defense Chief with Intelligence-Backed Insider
Acting President Delcy Rodríguez appointed Gustavo González López, a longtime presidential security and counterintelligence official, as Venezuela’s new defence minister, replacing Vladimir Padrino López. The move signals a potential shift toward prioritising regime security and internal surveillance over conventional military roles, with implications for civil-military balance and foreign engagement.
Washington Readies Targeted Easing of Venezuela Oil Sanctions to Calm Global Market
The US plans to issue more individual licences to allow foreign firms to operate in Venezuela’s oil sector, aiming to raise crude production and cool a price surge linked to conflict around Iran. The move is targeted rather than a full sanctions lift, balancing the need for additional supply with continued political leverage over Caracas.
US Receives $100m of Venezuelan Gold as Caracas Reopens — Washington Frames Move as a Wedge Against China
The US has taken delivery of about $100 million in Venezuelan gold as diplomatic ties with Caracas are restored and sanctions on gold transactions are conditionally relaxed. Washington is framing access to Venezuelan minerals as part of a broader strategy to bolster domestic supply chains and compete with China in high-tech and defence sectors.
Venezuela Seeks Diplomatic Reset with Washington as Both Sides Agree to Restore Ties
Acting Venezuelan president Delcy Rodríguez has urged diplomatic dialogue with the United States after both governments agreed to restore diplomatic and consular relations. The move reverses a 2019 rupture and opens a cautious path toward pragmatic cooperation, though deep mistrust and unresolved issues mean normalization will be gradual.
A Major Turn: US and Venezuela Restore Diplomatic Ties, Opening Door to Sanctions Talks
The United States and Venezuela have agreed to restore diplomatic and consular relations, a significant reversal after a rupture in 2019. The reset opens a channel for talks on sanctions, economic recovery and humanitarian assistance, but several claims in some reports about dramatic regime-change events remain unverified and require cautious treatment.
Thousands in Caracas Rally for Iran and Against U.S. Influence, Repeating Claims Over Maduro’s Whereabouts
Thousands marched in Caracas on March 3 to protest alleged U.S. and Israeli strikes on Iran and to demand the release of President Maduro and his wife, whom protesters say were detained two months earlier. The demonstration, covered by Chinese state media, underscores Venezuela’s alignment with Iran and complicates Caracas’s relations with Washington, though the detention claim remains unverified.
Maduro’s U.S. Defense Says Treasury Blocked Venezuelan Funds, Asks Judge to Toss Case
Maduro’s U.S. attorney has moved to dismiss the criminal case, saying the U.S. Treasury briefly licensed then rescinded permission for him to accept Venezuelan state funds, effectively blocking payment for the president’s defense. The motion raises novel legal questions about whether sanctions-related executive actions can so impair a defendant’s right to counsel that a court must dismiss charges or provide other remedies.
Chinese Report Says U.S. Military Used Anthropic’s ‘Claude’ in Venezuela Operation — Raising New Questions About AI’s Role in Warfare
A Chinese outlet reported that the U.S. military used Anthropic’s AI model Claude to analyse imagery and intelligence in an alleged January operation to remove Venezuela’s president. The claim is unverified, but highlights tensions between AI firms seeking use-limiting safeguards and defence customers seeking broad access, and raises urgent questions about oversight and the geopolitics of commercial AI in warfare.
US Military Allegedly Used Anthropic’s Claude in Venezuela Operation, Raising Questions About AI’s Role in War
U.S. media report that Anthropic’s AI model Claude was used in the January 3 U.S. operation in Venezuela, routed via a partnership with Palantir. Anthropic has not confirmed the claim and stresses its policy forbidding uses that facilitate violence, but the allegation raises legal, ethical and strategic questions about private AI models in military operations.
AI at the Point of a Gun: Reports Say US Used Anthropic’s Claude in Venezuela Raid, Raising Ethical and Political Alarms
U.S. outlets reported that the Pentagon used Anthropic’s Claude model in a January operation in Venezuela that seized President Nicolás Maduro and his wife. Anthropic says uses must follow its safety policy but declines to confirm specifics, and the episode spotlights the tensions between commercial AI policies, military use, and enforcement.