Venezuela

• Friday, January 30th 2026 - 05:16 UTC

  Trump threatens tariffs on countries supplying oil to Cuba, tightening pressure on Mexico

  

  U.S. President Donald Trump signed an executive order that opens the door to imposing tariffs on imports from countries deemed to be supplying crude oil to Cuba, a move designed to raise the external cost of keeping Havana’s energy lifeline open and further constrain fuel flows to the island.

• Friday, January 30th 2026 - 05:11 UTC

  US returns seized oil tanker to Venezuela amid broader energy policy shift

  

  The United States government this week returned the seized oil tanker M/T Sophia to Venezuela, reflecting a broader shift in U.S. energy policy toward Caracas amid efforts to normalize commercial ties, U.S. officials said Wednesday. The move comes after several high‑profile seizures of vessels tied to Venezuelan oil shipping.

• Wednesday, January 28th 2026 - 22:52 UTC

  Petro revives anti-Trump rhetoric, urges U.S. to “return” Maduro ahead of Feb. 3 White House meeting

  

  Colombia’s President Gustavo Petro has revived his sharpest anti-Trump rhetoric days before a planned meeting with U.S. President Donald Trump, calling on Washington to “return” Nicolás Maduro so he can be tried in Venezuela rather than in U.S. courts.

• Wednesday, January 28th 2026 - 22:38 UTC

  Marco Rubio: “Our relationship with Delcy Rodríguez's government is productive and respectful”

  

  U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio said on Wednesday that Washington is not considering “any military action” in Venezuela, as he testified before the Senate Foreign Relations Committee to outline the Trump administration’s strategy following the capture of former president Nicolás Maduro earlier this month.

• Wednesday, January 28th 2026 - 14:33 UTC

  Venezuela’s draft hydrocarbons reform faces extensive legislative scrutiny

  

  Venezuela’s proposed hydrocarbons law overhaul is under intense legislative scrutiny, with more than 80 amendments submitted by lawmakers, legal experts and energy sector associations ahead of a planned final vote, Reuters reported Tuesday.

• Wednesday, January 28th 2026 - 14:30 UTC

  U.S. prepares general licence to ease Venezuelan energy sanctions after Maduro capture

  

  The United States is preparing a general licence to ease sanctions on Venezuela’s energy sector, aiming to facilitate an estimated $2 billion oil supply deal between Caracas and Washington, U.S. government sources told Reuters on Tuesday. The move is part of a strategic shift in U.S. policy after the Jan. 3 capture of former Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro by U.S. forces.

• Wednesday, January 28th 2026 - 08:56 UTC

  Marco Rubio says U.S. may use force again in Venezuela if Delcy Rodríguez “does not cooperate”

  

  U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio will tell the Senate Foreign Relations Committee on Wednesday that Washington is prepared to “use force” again in Venezuela if it determines that acting president Delcy Rodríguez is not cooperating “to the level” expected by President Donald Trump’s administration, according to a draft of his prepared remarks cited by media.

• Tuesday, January 27th 2026 - 09:55 UTC

  Delcy Rodriguez meets Repsol, Chevron and Shell as Venezuela pushes oil law overhaul to draw investment

  

  Venezuela’s acting president Delcy Rodriguez met on Monday in Caracas with representatives of oil companies including Repsol, Chevron and Shell to discuss a hydrocarbons law reform now moving through the National Assembly, as her government seeks to attract private and foreign investment. The meeting took place at PDVSA facilities and forms part of a mandatory public consultation phase after the bill cleared its first legislative debate.

• Monday, January 26th 2026 - 23:18 UTC

  Lula urges Trump to limit “Peace Board” to Gaza in call covering governance, Venezuela and bilateral agenda

  

  Brazil’s President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva held a phone call on Monday with U.S. President Donald Trump, in a nearly hour-long conversation that blended global governance issues with the bilateral agenda. Brazilian media, citing Planalto Palace sources, reported that Lula argued Trump’s proposed “Peace Board” should be restricted exclusively to the future governance of the Gaza Strip and should also contemplate the creation of a Palestinian state—an approach those sources said Trump does not share.

• Monday, January 26th 2026 - 01:11 UTC

  Venezuela releases “at least 80” political prisoners as families wait outside jails

  

  Venezuela freed “at least 80” political prisoners on Sunday across multiple detention facilities, according to a preliminary count by rights group Foro Penal, in a slow-moving release process that has left relatives camping outside prisons while awaiting official confirmation.