Venezuela

• Thursday, February 5th 2026 - 05:39 UTC

  Venezuela detains Alex Saab in joint operation with United States

  

  Colombian-Venezuelan businessman Alex Saab — long portrayed by U.S. authorities as a key financial operator for Chavismo and a former Venezuelan industry minister — was detained in Caracas early Wednesday in what Colombian media described as a joint operation involving Venezuela’s intelligence service (SEBIN) and the FBI. Venezuela’s government had not issued an official confirmation by the time of publication.

• Tuesday, February 3rd 2026 - 02:08 UTC

  Betting spike ahead of Machado’s Nobel Peace Prize and suspected cyber breach trigger leak probe

  

  The Norwegian Nobel Institute concluded that a cyberattack is the “most likely” explanation for the leak of information about the 2025 Nobel Peace Prize, after prediction markets registered an abrupt—and highly profitable—shift in favor of María Corina Machado a few hours before the official announcement.

• Friday, January 30th 2026 - 23:39 UTC

  Venezuela’s interim leader Delcy Rodríguez announces proposed general amnesty for political prisoners

  

  Delcy Rodríguez said on Friday she will push a “general amnesty law” covering political prisoners and instructed that the draft be sent to the Asamblea Nacional de Venezuela, where it is expected to be debated and approved next week. The announcement was delivered at an event held at Tribunal Supremo de Justicia de Venezuela, as reported by El País.

• 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.