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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

A US military helicopter flies over the Panama-flagged Centuries, which was intercepted by the US Coast Guard on Saturday. Photo: DHS via Reuters

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China says US broke international law by seizing oil tankers off Venezuela

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US Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem posted footage of the operation on social media on Saturday. Image: X/Sec_Noem

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The US Navy’s Gerald R. Ford Carrier Strike Group, which has been operating in the region. Photo: US Navy via AFP

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18 Dec 2025 - 9:15PM

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US President Donald Trump and Chinese President Xi Jinping talk as they leave after a bilateral meeting at Gimhae International Airport, on the sidelines of the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation summit in Busan, South Korea, on October 30. Photo: Reuters

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The crude oil tanker Skipper, which was seized by the US military off the coast of Venezuela last week. Photo Vantor via AP

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An Iranian medium-range ballistic missile is seen next to a large banner depicting the country’s Supreme leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, in the capital Tehran. Photo: EPA

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

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US President Donald Trump speaks alongside his defence secretary Pete Hegseth in the Cabinet Room of the White House in Washington, DC, on December 2. Photo: AFP

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Americas and the Caribbean

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US Defence Secretary Pete Hegseth earlier echoed President Donald Trump in referring to his October summit with Chinese counterpart Xi Jinping as a “historic G2 meeting”. Photo: Reuters

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US Marines wade ashore from a landing craft during amphibious operations in Arroyo, Puerto Rico, on Tuesday. Photo: Reuters

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Venezuelan opposition leader Maria Corina Machado gestures as she votes during the presidential election, in Caracas on July 28, 2024. Photo: AFP

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

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Venezuela

China says US broke international law by seizing oil tankers off Venezuela

Situation intensifies as Beijing condemns tanker seizures and US security chief calls to remove Nicolas Maduro from power.

US pursues third oil tanker as Trump’s Venezuela ‘blockade’ intensifies

US-China ties in focus after Trump labels fentanyl ‘weapon of mass destruction’

Venezuela slams ‘international piracy’ after US seizes another vessel

Trump has ordered a blockade of all sanctioned oil tankers in and out of the area, but the ship is reportedly not one of those blacklisted.

Rubio swaps hawk for diplomat in year-end pivot on China

Top US envoy eschews ‘pacing threat’ label, stressing cooperation and Western hemisphere priorities for 2026.

Trump leaves war with Venezuela on the table, threatens more seizures: NBC

The comments increase pressure on Nicolas Maduro’s regime, but Trump wouldn’t say if ousting the Venezuelan leader was his ultimate goal.

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

With an unusually large US military presence near Venezuela, observers warn of tactics that stretch the bounds of international law.

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

From EU-China trade ties to Laos securing approval to export durians, here’s a round-up from today’s coverage.

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.

.css-sioo19{color:#c79a00;}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.

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

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