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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

US President Donald Trump (left) and Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro. Trump told NBC News he’s keeping the possibility of war with Venezuela on the table. Photo: AFP

United States

Developing | Trump says war with Venezuela remains possible: NBC

Trump also said there would be additional seizures of oil tankers near Venezuela.

20 minutes ago

Americas and the Caribbean

Trump’s Venezuela ‘blockade’ raises legal questions as US masses forces

4 hours ago

SCMP Highlights

China’s youth-unemployment rate, Laos joins durian war: SCMP daily highlights

18 Dec 2025 - 9:15PM

China-Latin America relations

China FM Wang Yi reaffirms Beijing’s backing for Venezuela as US pressure grows

In a call with his Caracas counterpart, the Chinese foreign minister says mutual trust and support are a tradition of bilateral ties.

18 Dec 2025 - 4:11PMvideocam

Venezuela’s Foreign Minister Yvan Gil (left) and Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi, pictured in Beijing earlier this year. Photo: AFP

United States

Opinion | For Trump, the only communists to really dislike are those at home

The limited discussion of China in the new US national security document indicates that the US president’s focus is on domestic challenges to his authority.

17 Dec 2025 - 8:30PMvideocam

Americas and the Caribbean

Trump orders blockade of sanctioned oil tankers going in and out of Venezuela

Venezuelan government condemns blockade as ‘irrational’ after the US president demands it ‘return’ oil, land and assets to the US.

17 Dec 2025 - 4:27PMvideocam

Donald Trump

Trump’s chief of staff pulls back curtains of White House in revealing interviews

Susie Wiles offers her unusually candid opinion of Trump and senior figures in the US president’s orbit.

17 Dec 2025 - 11:18AM

White House chief of staff Susie Wiles. Photo: Getty Images

Americas and the Caribbean

US military boat strikes kill 8, adding to drug war death toll

The US military said it targeted ‘designated terrorist organisations’, and posted video of an operation in the eastern Pacific.

16 Dec 2025 - 4:42PM

US-China relations

‘Testing the waters’? US reported to have seized Chinese cargo bound for Iran

The US accuses China of supplying Iran with dual-use components that could potentially support Tehran’s ballistic missile build-up.

16 Dec 2025 - 10:00AMvideocam

United States

Trump declares fentanyl a ‘weapon of mass destruction’

US president dramatically escalates his fight against the drug by signing an executive order and warning against the ‘scourge’ of fentanyl.

16 Dec 2025 - 2:05PM

US President Donald Trump with his signed executive order classifying fentanyl as a ‘weapon of mass destruction’. Photo: Reuters

Iran

No contact with Iran Nobel winner laureate arrest, supporters say

Narges Mohammadi, the 2023 Peace Prize laureate, was detained on Friday alongside dozens of activists and may face national security charges.

15 Dec 2025 - 10:06AM

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?

Capricious political leaders like Donald Trump and his defence chief may be more dangerous than responsible and battle-tested generals.

12 Dec 2025 - 8:30PM

Americas and the Caribbean

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

Seizure off Venezuela signals a crackdown on a shadow fleet of tankers and financially squeezing the Maduro government.

12 Dec 2025 - 4:14PMvideocam

A satellite image shows the Skipper tanker and another vessel off Port Jose, Venezuela, on November 18, 2025. Photo: Planet Labs PBC via Reuters

Americas and the Caribbean

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.

12 Dec 2025 - 10:12AMvideocam

The tanker as it was being seized by US forces off the coast of Venezuela this week. Photo: US Attorney General Pam Bondi’s X account via Reuters

US-China relations

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.

12 Dec 2025 - 12:06AMvideocam

Americas and the Caribbean

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

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

11 Dec 2025 - 2:06PMvideocam

Americas and the Caribbean

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.

11 Dec 2025 - 10:03PM

Nobel peace laureate Maria Corina Machado addresses a press conference at the Grand Hotel in Oslo, Norway, on Thursday. Photo: AFP

Americas and the Caribbean

‘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.

11 Dec 2025 - 4:02PMvideocam

Nordic nations

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.

10 Dec 2025 - 9:14PM

Americas and the Caribbean

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.

10 Dec 2025 - 4:03PM

Opposition leader Maria Corina Machado during a protest in Caracas, Venezuela, in August 2024. Photo: AP

Americas and the Caribbean

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.

6 Dec 2025 - 11:40PM

Venezuelan opposition leader Maria Corina Machado gestures as she addresses her supporters during a protest on January 9. Machado lives in hiding in her country. Photo: AFP

War and conflict

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.

6 Dec 2025 - 5:30AMvideocam

Americas and the Caribbean

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.

5 Dec 2025 - 10:23AM

China-Latin America relations

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.

5 Dec 2025 - 5:12AM

Washington has deployed the aircraft carrier Gerald R. Ford and around 12,000 sailors and Marines to the Caribbean region. Photo: Reuters

Americas and the Caribbean

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.

4 Dec 2025 - 3:13PM

Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro looks through binoculars during a rally in Caracas on Monday. Photo EPA

China-Latin America relations

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.

4 Dec 2025 - 7:01AMvideocam

United States

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.

4 Dec 2025 - 6:37PMvideocam

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Venezuela

.css-sioo19{color:#c79a00;}Developing | Trump says war with Venezuela remains possible: NBC

Trump also said there would be additional seizures of oil tankers near Venezuela.

Trump’s Venezuela ‘blockade’ raises legal questions as US masses forces

China’s youth-unemployment rate, Laos joins durian war: SCMP daily highlights

China FM Wang Yi reaffirms Beijing’s backing for Venezuela as US pressure grows

In a call with his Caracas counterpart, the Chinese foreign minister says mutual trust and support are a tradition of bilateral ties.

.css-1m2rp1p{color:#34b8b5;}Opinion | For Trump, the only communists to really dislike are those at home

The limited discussion of China in the new US national security document indicates that the US president’s focus is on domestic challenges to his authority.

Trump orders blockade of sanctioned oil tankers going in and out of Venezuela

Venezuelan government condemns blockade as ‘irrational’ after the US president demands it ‘return’ oil, land and assets to the US.

Trump’s chief of staff pulls back curtains of White House in revealing interviews

Susie Wiles offers her unusually candid opinion of Trump and senior figures in the US president’s orbit.

US military boat strikes kill 8, adding to drug war death toll

The US military said it targeted ‘designated terrorist organisations’, and posted video of an operation in the eastern Pacific.

‘Testing the waters’? US reported to have seized Chinese cargo bound for Iran

The US accuses China of supplying Iran with dual-use components that could potentially support Tehran’s ballistic missile build-up.

Trump declares fentanyl a ‘weapon of mass destruction’

US president dramatically escalates his fight against the drug by signing an executive order and warning against the ‘scourge’ of fentanyl.

No contact with Iran Nobel winner laureate arrest, supporters say

Narges Mohammadi, the 2023 Peace Prize laureate, was detained on Friday alongside dozens of activists and may face national security charges.

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.

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

Capricious political leaders like Donald Trump and his defence chief may be more dangerous than responsible and battle-tested generals.

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

Seizure off Venezuela signals a crackdown on a shadow fleet of tankers and financially squeezing the Maduro government.

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.

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.

Developing | Trump says war with Venezuela remains possible: NBC

Opinion | For Trump, the only communists to really dislike are those at home