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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. On Sunday, officials said the US was pursuing a third tanker in waters off Venezuela. Photo: DHS / Handout via Reuters

Donald Trump

US is pursuing a third oil tanker near Venezuela, officials say

US National Economic Council director Kevin Hassett said the first two tankers seized were providing oil to sanctioned countries.

3 hours ago

US-China relations

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Americas and the Caribbean

Venezuela slams ‘international piracy’ after US seizes another vessel

21 Dec 2025 - 9:57AMvideocam

US-China relations

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20 Dec 2025 - 6:53AMvideocam

US Secretary of State Marco Rubio during his end-of-year press conference at the State Department on Friday. Photo: Reuters

United States

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.

19 Dec 2025 - 7:33PM

Americas and the Caribbean

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.

19 Dec 2025 - 3:18PM

SCMP Highlights

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18 Dec 2025 - 9:15PM

China-Europe freight trains preparing to depart from the Manzhouli railway station in Manzhouli, north China’s Inner Mongolia Autonomous Region on December 10, 2025. Photo: Xinhua

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

United States

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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

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

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’

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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

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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.

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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

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

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

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

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Americas and the Caribbean

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5 Dec 2025 - 10:23AM

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Venezuela

US is pursuing a third oil tanker near Venezuela, officials say

US National Economic Council director Kevin Hassett said the first two tankers seized were providing oil to sanctioned countries.

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

Venezuela slams ‘international piracy’ after US seizes another vessel

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.

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.

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

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