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148 developments across 92 briefings for this country.
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The United States received $13 billion from Venezuelan oil sales during the year while only $3 billion was transparently remitted to Caracas.
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The United States received $13 billion from Venezuelan oil sales during the year while only $3 billion was transparently remitted to Caracas.
Open source reportGeography
Marker precision is disclosed on selection. Country and regional centroids show geographic scope, not an exact incident site.
Venezuela dossier
130 mapped developments across 1 map positions. Centroid markers show geographic scope, not an exact incident site.
Caracas
Colombian President Gustavo Petro met Manuel Rosales rather than representatives of the opposition aligned with Maria Corina Machado. Rosales are a government-approved opposition candidate; the meeting occurred with President Nicolás Maduro’s approval.
Approximate map position: country centroid. The extracted place did not have provider-resolved coordinates.
Chronology
The Financial Times estimated that the U.S. has received $13 billion in revenue from its sales of Venezuelan oil this year, but called out that only $3 billion of the proceeds has been remitted to Caracas in a transparent way.
The United States received $13 billion from Venezuelan oil sales during the year while only $3 billion was transparently remitted to Caracas.
Open source reportA CIA analysis of almost 20 years of intelligence on Venezuelan elections concluded that Venezuelan officials had "some capability in manipulating electronic voting systems" to alter up to 1.5 million votes in the country's elections since 2012.
A CIA review found that Venezuelan officials had some ability to alter as many as 1.5 million votes through electronic systems in elections since 2012.
Open source reportThe government is floundering for legitimacy after botching its response to devastating twin earthquakes, and it probably hopes the opposition will have some better governance ideas.
The interim government is struggling for legitimacy following its response to two earthquakes and may hope the opposition can contribute governance ideas.
Open source reportVenezuela's interim government announced that it will begin talks with the opposition, with the goal of "strengthening democracy."... Maria Corina Machado, will not lead talks with the government. She remains in exile - though the U.S. is now encouraging the interim government to welcome her back
Venezuela’s interim government announced talks with the opposition aimed at strengthening democracy. Opposition leader María Corina Machado remains in exile and will not lead the talks, while the United States is encouraging her return.
Open source reportVenezuela has now tallied 3,342 deaths from twin earthquakes on June 24. Thousands are still missing, and residents are seething at the government over its slow and flaccid response to the disaster.
Twin earthquakes on June 24 killed 3,342 people and left thousands missing. Public anger over the government’s response and allegations that authorities ignored or suppressed warnings about vulnerable public housing.
Open source reportThe botched response is likely to fuel public resentment of Rodriguez and her feckless government... Many - including The Economist - are calling for the U.S. government, which installed Rodriguez after capturing her predecessor, to step in and help.
Failures in the earthquake response will likely deepen public resentment toward interim President Delcy Rodriguez’s government. Some observers are calling for U.S. assistance.
Open source reportVenezuela now estimates that last week's twin earthquakes killed over 2,500 people; thousands are still missing. Emerging reports suggest that interim President Delcy Rodriguez's government has severely botched its response to the disaster.
Venezuela estimates that twin earthquakes killed more than 2,500 people and left thousands missing. Resident allegations that government aid arrived late in La Guaira and that soldiers and police failed to assist effectively.
Open source reportAnalysts suggest Machado wants to be waiting in the wings to rally her many supporters behind a bid to challenge interim President Delcy Rodriguez
Machado may want to mobilize supporters if interim President Delcy Rodriguez mishandles disaster relief, while Washington likely prefers avoiding a political contest during the response.
Open source reportBloomberg reported that Venezuela's popular exiled opposition leader, Maria Corina Machado, is trying to return to her country as soon as possible
Exiled opposition leader Maria Corina Machado is trying to return following earthquakes in Venezuela. The United States rejected her request for assistance and that a U.S. official characterized the effort as a political stunt.
Open source reportTwo strong "doublet" earthquakes struck Venezuela yesterday, killing at least 32 and injuring more than 700.
Two earthquakes killed at least 32 people, injured more than 700 and extensively damaged Caracas’s main airport. Delcy Rodriguez declared an emergency and attributes a possible death toll exceeding 10,000 to USGS modeling.
Open source reportVenezuela's government plans to reveal its outstanding borrowings in the coming weeks, and the Financial Times reported that the total figure is going to be a massive $240 billion.
Caracas plans to disclose approximately $240 billion in outstanding debt and an estimated GDP of $100 billion, implying a debt-to-GDP ratio of roughly 240%. Presenting the scale of the debt may support efforts to secure creditor write-downs and regain access to international markets.
Open source reportA U.S. airstrike in Venezuela's Bolívar state killed Héctor Guerrero Flores (aka Niño Guerrero), the head of the Tren de Aragua gang that the U.S. has designated as a foreign terrorist organization.
A U.S. airstrike in Bolívar state killed Héctor Guerrero Flores, also known as Niño Guerrero, and that U.S. and Venezuelan officials characterized the action as coordinated or joint.
Open source reportRather, "since there is no ideological foundation, it is simply a struggle for power, money, positions, and survival."
Former Venezuelan minister Andrés Izarra is quoted assessing that the division is driven by competition for power, money, positions and survival rather than Chavismo ideology.
Open source reportThe AP reported on emerging rifts in interim President Delcy Rodriguez's government, with longtime Maduro loyalists criticizing Rodriguez's reforms. They particularly object to her deportation of close Maduro ally Alex Saab to face trial in the U.S., and her authorization for U.S. forces to conduct training in Caracas.
Maduro loyalists oppose interim President Delcy Rodriguez’s reforms, including the deportation of Alex Saab to face trial in the United States and authorization of U.S. military training in Caracas.
Open source reportIt's not clear how her government will pay the higher rates. It has struggled to pay the previous, much-lower rates in recent months...
It is unclear how the government will finance the announced increases, citing difficulty meeting previous, lower obligations.
Open source reportVenezuela's interim president, Delcy Rodriguez, announced a public sector minimum wage hike of 26% to $240 per month and a pension raise to $70 per month...
Interim President Delcy Rodriguez announced a 26% increase in the public-sector minimum wage to $240 per month and raised pensions to $70 following protests over payment shortfalls.
Open source reportAmerican Airlines plans to resume daily direct passenger flights between Miami and Caracas today, after a seven-year hiatus.
American Airlines planned to resume daily Miami-Caracas passenger flights after a seven-year hiatus and add a second daily round trip from May 21. The service is evidence of warmer relations between Washington and the government in Caracas.
Open source reportRodriguez especially won't want to facilitate Machado's return to Venezuela, where Machado remains popular and a threat to Rodriguez's unelected regime.
Rodríguez is unlikely to resolve excluded political-prisoner cases or facilitate María Corina Machado’s return because Machado remains a popular political threat. Machado faces treason charges and that the government wants to count her among excluded cases.
Open source reportVenezuela's Acting President, Delcy Rodriguez, announced an end to the amnesty law her government enacted in February under pressure from the U.S.
Acting President Delcy Rodríguez ended an amnesty enacted in February under U.S. pressure. Rodríguez claimed 8,616 releases, while rights groups put the number near 700; 473 political prisoners remain detained or have been reincarcerated.
Open source reportRepsol thinks - probably correctly - that it can operate Petroquiriquire better than PDVSA has.
Repsol is probably correct in believing it can operate the field more effectively than PDVSA.
Open source reportSpain's Repsol reached an agreement with Venezuela and its state oil company, PDVSA, to take back operational control of its operations at the Petroquiriquire field, which currently produces about 45,000 barrels per day.
Repsol reached an agreement with Venezuela and PDVSA to regain operational control of the Petroquiriquire field, described as producing about 45,000 barrels per day. Repsol committed to tripling production within three years.
Open source reportRodriguez didn't give a figure for the new minimum wage, but she said oil and mining revenues would pay for it.
Interim President Delcy Rodriguez announced an unspecified public-sector minimum-wage increase beginning the following month; oil and mining revenue would finance it. The wage has remained at 130 bolivares per month since March 2022.
Open source reportThe U.S. lifted sanctions on Venezuela's new president, Delcy Rodriguez. Rodriguez had been blacklisted since 2018 for her role as vice president in her predecessor's repressive regime.
Washington removed sanctions from Venezuela’s new president, Delcy Rodriguez; she was cooperating with U.S. priorities involving Venezuelan oil and mining investment.
Open source reportThis reshuffle lets her appear to be taking action while merely consolidating power for herself.
Replacing López with González, described as a sanctioned hardliner, signals that Rodriguez is consolidating personal power rather than pursuing meaningful democratic reform.
Open source reportVenezuela's U.S.-backed interim president, Delcy Rodriguez, fired her long-serving defense minister, Gen. Vladimir Padrino López, and other top brass yesterday.
Interim president Delcy Rodriguez dismissed Defense Minister Gen. Vladimir Padrino López and other senior military officials and appointed military counterintelligence chief Gustavo González to replace López.
Open source reportVenezuela's opposition leader, Maria Corina Machado, announced in a social media post that she plans to return to her home country in the coming weeks.
Opposition leader María Corina Machado announced plans to return to Venezuela within weeks despite previously announced charges and a warning attributed to interim president Delcy Rodríguez that Machado must answer for advocating U.S. military intervention.
Open source reportTo that end, she called on Pres. Trump to end sanctions and a naval blockade of sanctioned tankers in a speech on state television yesterday.
Rodríguez used a February 26 state-television speech to urge President Trump to end sanctions and a naval blockade of sanctioned tankers.
Open source reportAs a result, most of the deals went to shady and little-known companies with less operating experience. Caracas likely hopes to reassign them to more capable operators.
Venezuela may reassign contracts to more experienced operators and must first rebuild major oil companies’ confidence.
Open source reportInterim president Delcy Rodriguez's government suspended 19 oil and gas production sharing agreements signed under Rodriguez's predecessor, Nicolas Maduro, while Venezuela and the U.S. jointly review the contracts and counterparties.
The government led by Delcy Rodríguez suspended 19 production-sharing agreements signed under Nicolás Maduro while Venezuela and the United States review the contracts and counterparties.
Open source reportPres. Trump acknowledged that a CIA drone strike about a week ago destroyed a Venezuelan dock used by Tren de Aragua drug traffickers to export their wares, marking what seems to be the first known land strike on Venezuela.
Trump acknowledged that a CIA drone strike roughly a week earlier destroyed a Venezuelan dock used by Tren de Aragua to export drugs. The incident is potentially the first known land strike in Venezuela; the Maduro government addressed it only obliquely.
Open source reportU.S. forces struck a 29th drug boat as part of Operation Southern Spear - this time in the eastern Pacific - killing one.
The action is the 29th drug-boat strike under Operation Southern Spear; one person was killed.
Open source reportthe blockade is likely to exacerbate already-high inflation and lead to a fresh surge in outbound migration.
Tighter restrictions on oil exports would aggravate Venezuela’s inflation and trigger additional outbound migration, while having little lasting effect on global oil prices because of ample supply and limited expected Chinese sanctions enforcement.
Open source reportThe U.S. is monitoring around 18 fully-loaded, sanctioned tankers in Venezuelan waters, and Axios reported that it plans to seize any that enter international waters.
The United States is monitoring about 18 fully loaded sanctioned tankers in Venezuelan waters and plans to seize vessels that enter international waters.
Open source reportthe emphasis on sanctioned tankers suggests this will be more of a redoubling of ongoing U.S. naval operations against regime-linked boats in the Caribbean than a true blockade.
The focus on sanctioned tankers indicates an intensification of existing U.S. naval enforcement against regime-linked vessels rather than restrictions on all Venezuelan maritime trade. Chevron’s legal exports and other lawful shipments would remain unaffected.
Open source reportPres. Trump said he had designated Nicolas Maduro's government a foreign terrorist organization and announced a "A TOTAL AND COMPLETE BLOCKADE OF ALL SANCTIONED OIL TANKERS going into, and out of, Venezuela."
President Trump designated Nicolás Maduro’s government a foreign terrorist organization and announced a “total and complete blockade” of sanctioned oil tankers entering or leaving Venezuela.
Open source reporttwo U.S. F/A-18 fighter jets circled the Gulf of Venezuela for about 40 minutes yesterday
Two U.S. F/A-18s circled the Gulf of Venezuela for about 40 minutes in the closest such approach since an operation it identifies as Southern Sentinel began. A U.S. official described the flights as nonprovocative, while Caracas would view them as threatening.
Open source reportA Nobel official told media that Machado was "unfortunately not in Norway." That would seem to suggest she's still in Venezuela
María Corina Machado did not appear in Norway to accept the Nobel Peace Prize. Her absence may mean she remains in Venezuela because of an asserted travel ban.
Open source reportIATA, a global aviation association, warned Venezuela that revoking clearances would backfire and further reduce "connectivity to the country, which is already one of the least connected in the region."
IATA assessed that revoking airline clearances would further reduce Venezuela’s already limited international connectivity.
Open source reportVenezuela's aviation authority, INAC, ordered the airlines to resume flights within 48 hours or risk losing their flight clearance altogether.
Several international airlines paused Venezuelan service following a U.S. FAA warning, prompting aviation authority INAC to demand resumption within 48 hours or risk revocation of flight clearances.
Open source reportBut she may not be able to return while Maduro remains in power. •It's unclear whether she intends to return quickly or will try to lead the opposition from abroad.
Machado may be unable to return while Nicolás Maduro remains in power; it is unclear whether she would attempt a quick return or lead the Venezuelan opposition from abroad.
Open source reportAttorney General Tarek Saab said she would be "considered a fugitive" if she left the country, and Interior Minister Diosdado Cabello preemptively celebrated her departure, adding sardonically: "we're going to miss her."
María Corina Machado intends to leave hiding in Venezuela and travel to Norway for the December 10 Nobel Peace Prize ceremony. Venezuelan officials said she would be considered a fugitive if she departed.
Open source reportSeparately, another Operation Southern Spear naval strike killed three more drug traffickers on Saturday.
Another naval strike associated with Operation Southern Spear killed three drug traffickers. No location or additional operational details.
Open source reportPres. Trump told reporters on Saturday that Maduro "would like to talk." Trump also teased that he has "sort of made up my mind" about whether or not to order a land strike on Venezuela, but he declined to elaborate.
Trump said Maduro “would like to talk” and indicated he had “sort of made up my mind” about whether to order a land strike, without disclosing his decision or elaborating on possible talks.
Open source reportThe U.S. will designate Venezuela's Cartel de los Soles as a Foreign Terrorist Organization (FTO) starting next Monday, Nov. 24.
The designation will take effect on Nov. 24 and the Trump administration accuses Maduro of leading the organization. The measure could expand action against members and associates and potentially strengthen arguments for direct strikes.
Open source reportPres. Trump told reporters on Saturday that Maduro "would like to talk." Trump also teased that he has "sort of made up my mind" about whether or not to order a land strike on Venezuela
Trump told reporters that Maduro wanted to talk and that he had “sort of made up my mind” about a possible land strike, without disclosing his decision or clarifying the prospects for talks.
Open source reportIt could potentially also bolster the case for targeting Maduro and his associates with direct strikes
The designation could support enforcement against cartel members and business partners and potentially strengthen the case for direct strikes against Maduro and his associates.
Open source reportThe U.S. will designate Venezuela's Cartel de los Soles as a Foreign Terrorist Organization (FTO) starting next Monday, Nov. 24.
The United States will designate Cartel de los Soles as a Foreign Terrorist Organization effective November 24. The Trump administration accuses Nicolás Maduro of leading the organization.
Open source reportMaduro is trying to inspire a guerrilla-style resistance in case of a U.S. land attack. It's unclear how much of his military would stand by him if his rule was threatened
Nicolás Maduro is seeking to encourage guerrilla-style resistance in the event of a U.S. ground attack. The loyalty of Venezuela’s military would be uncertain if Maduro’s rule were threatened.
Open source reportThe U.S. Navy has sent the USS Gerald Ford - its most advanced aircraft carrier - to the Caribbean to join the ongoing mobilization in the seas around Venezuela, cutting its previous mission to the Mediterranean short by several months.
The U.S. Navy redirected the USS Gerald Ford from the Mediterranean to the Caribbean, adding a claimed 5,500 personnel to an existing U.S. force of approximately 10,000.
Open source reportIn one clip filmed at the national military academy, army commander Gen. Johan Hernández Láre boasts that the academy's cadets "are ready to destroy the enemy" after their training on the first-person view (FPV) drone simulators in the background.
Venezuela’s army released patriotic promotional videos potentially intended to motivate personnel and attract recruits. Gen. Johan Hernández Láre saying cadets were ready to destroy the enemy near FPV-drone simulators that observers compared with a commercially available video game.
Open source reportWhether or not any of the targeted officers were actually plotting against Maduro, his crackdown on suspected traitors is bound to make other officers hesitate to challenge his authority.
Targeting suspected traitors will make other military officers less willing to challenge Maduro, whether or not the targeted personnel were involved in a plot.
Open source reportNumerous reports suggest that Venezuela's strongman, Nicolas Maduro, has been leveraging Cuban intelligence to intensify a crackdown on suspected traitors within his government by jailing and - - torturing military officers suspected of disloyalty.
Unspecified reports alleging that Nicolás Maduro has used Cuban intelligence to identify, imprison and possibly torture Venezuelan military officers suspected of disloyalty.
Open source reportThe Washington Post reported that Venezuela's Nicolas Maduro has been begging for help from Russia, China, and Iran to upgrade its arsenal, defenses, and air fleet in light of the ongoing buildup of U.S. forces in the region
Nicolás Maduro requested weapons, defensive systems and aircraft support amid a regional U.S. force buildup. Russia sent at least two cargo aircraft and Iran supplied drones, while China’s response was unclear.
Open source reportgiven recent escalatory rhetoric from both sides - this looks like more of a preview than a false alarm
The bomber flight as a potential preview of further U.S. action rather than a false alarm.
Open source reportTwo supersonic U.S. B-1 bombers flew close enough to Venezuela yesterday... The U.S. Lancers remained in international airspace, and Pres. Trump later rejected initial Pentagon suggestions that the sorties were part of an "attack demonstration"
Two U.S. B-1 bombers flew near Venezuela on Oct. 23 while remaining in international airspace. Trump rejected an initial characterization of the sortie as an “attack demonstration.”
Open source reportThe true number of Igla-S missiles in Venezuela is far fewer than 5,000
Venezuela possesses far fewer than 5,000 Igla-S missiles, citing an asserted lack of visible satellite evidence and Maduro’s history of exaggerated numerical claims.
Open source reportannounced that he has deployed an arsenal of over 5,000 Russian-made Igla-S anti-aircraft missiles
Nicolás Maduro announced the deployment of more than 5,000 Russian-made Igla-S air-defense missiles amid perceived U.S. threats. Increased militia recruitment and televised military exercises.
Open source reportTwo more U.S. strikes on suspected Venezuelan drug boats in the past week might complicate plans for talks. So might the Dominican Republic's confirmation that its coast guard recovered 377 packages of cocaine from the wreckage of the latest strike.
The United States conducted two more strikes on suspected Venezuelan drug boats and that the Dominican Republic’s coast guard recovered 377 packages of cocaine from wreckage associated with the latest strike.
Open source reportThe fact that his envoy, Richard Grenell, expressed hope that "we can still have a deal" suggests Trump may be open to negotiating. However, two more U.S. strikes on suspected Venezuelan drug boats in the past week might complicate plans for talks.
Envoy Richard Grenell’s expressed hope for a deal is indicating that President Trump may remain open to negotiations, though reported U.S. strikes could hinder that prospect.
Open source reportBloomberg reported that Venezuela's Pres. Maduro wrote a direct letter to Pres. Trump on Sep. 6... to vehemently Trump's accusations that Venezuela is a major drug exporter and plea for U.S.-Venezuela talks to defuse tensions.
President Maduro wrote President Trump on September 6 to dispute accusations that Venezuela is a major drug exporter and request talks aimed at reducing tensions.
Open source reportMaduro insists that the U.S. is trying to goad Venezuela into a "major war" with the goal of "regime change for oil."
Some legal experts consider the strikes extrajudicial and excessive. Maduro calling the first strike a crime and alleging that Washington seeks to provoke a major war and pursue regime change for oil.
Open source reportThe U.S. Navy targeted another drug boat near Venezuela, killing three people who Pres. Trump said were "positively identified, extraordinarily violent drug trafficking cartels and narcoterrorists" heading to the U.S. with "big bags of cocaine and fentanyl."
The U.S. Navy struck a vessel near Venezuela and killed three people whom President Trump characterized as violent cartel members and narcoterrorists transporting cocaine and fentanyl toward the United States.
Open source reporttwo Venezuelan military jets buzzed one of the U.S. Navy's guided missile destroyers operating in international waters off the coast of Venezuela in a "highly provocative" attempt "to interfere with our counter-narco-terror operations."
Two Venezuelan military jets approached a U.S. guided-missile destroyer operating in international waters off Venezuela. The Pentagon characterized the encounter as interference with U.S. counter-narcotics and counterterrorism operations and warned the Maduro government against further obstruction.
Open source reportmany read Trump's latest statement as the strongest suggestion yet that his anti-cartel campaign could - as Maduro fears - be used to target the Venezuelan regime
Some analysts interpret Trump’s statements as a signal that the expanded U.S. anti-cartel campaign could eventually be directed against Venezuela’s government.
Open source reportThe U.S. carried out what the Pentagon called a "precision strike against a drug vessel operated by a designated narco-terrorist organization," killing 11 aboard
The United States conducted a precision strike against an drug vessel, killing 11 people. Trump identified those aboard as Tren de Aragua members and repeated his claim linking the cartel to President Nicolás Maduro.
Open source reportReuters reported that the U.S. is preparing a new authorization allowing Chevron to resume operations in Venezuela under stricter limitations
A Reuters report that Washington is preparing stricter authorization for Chevron to resume Venezuelan operations, potentially followed by permissions for Eni and Repsol. The proposed terms would favor supply-for-oil swaps over cash payments.
Open source reportTarek Saab, opened an investigation into allegations that 252 Venezuelan migrants - gang members - who were deported from the U.S. were tortured in El Salvador's CECOT detention center
Venezuelan Attorney General Tarek Saab opened an investigation into allegations that 252 Venezuelans deported from the United States were tortured at El Salvador’s CECOT prison before being repatriated in a prisoner exchange.
Open source reportAmnesty International published a new report... accusing Venezuela's leadership of crimes against humanity for using "enforced disappearances as part of a widespread and systematic attack against the civilian population, particularly those they consider dissidents."
Amnesty International published a report accusing Venezuela’s leadership of crimes against humanity through enforced disappearances targeting perceived dissidents.
Open source reportVenezuela inaugurated the first Kalashnikov ammunition plant in the Americas last week... it was built by the Kremlin's weapons export agency, Rosoboronexport, and will be operated by Russia's state-owned Rostec.
Venezuela opened the first Kalashnikov ammunition plant in the Americas, built by Russian arms exporter Rosoboronexport and intended for operation by state-owned Rostec.
Open source reportIt is dishonest and a sign of desperation when the vice-president of Venezuela has to use a fake video to support false claims that people were crossing the border to vote in the elections.
Guyanese Vice President Bharrat Jagdeo rejected videos promoted by Venezuelan Vice President Delcy Rodríguez as falsely depicting Essequibo residents crossing the river to vote. 21,403 voters from a designated area of Venezuela’s Bolívar state elected 14 ruling-party representatives who do not control the disputed Guyanese territory.
Open source reportVenezuela freed a jailed U.S. Air Force veteran, Joseph St. Clair, in an olive branch that Caracas hopes will inspire Pres. Trump to extend Chevron's license to operate in Venezuela.
Venezuela released Joseph St. Clair, whom the United States had designated as wrongfully detained after his October arrest near the Colombian border. Caracas hopes the move will encourage Trump to extend Chevron’s operating license.
Open source reportThat helped justify a decision to suspend flights from Colombia to Venezuela for only a week. Flights will resume after the election.
Cabello said 21 detained people were Venezuelan and 17 were foreign nationals, while alleging all entered from Colombia. That allegation is linked to a one-week flight suspension scheduled to end after the election.
Open source reportVenezuela's sanctioned Interior Minister, Diosdado Cabello, said - without offering any evidence - that authorities arrested 37 mercenaries planning to disrupt this weekend's legislative elections
Interior Minister Diosdado Cabello claimed authorities arrested 37 mercenaries accused of planning explosives attacks and collaborating with the opposition ahead of legislative elections. He offered no evidence.
Open source reportVenezuelan opposition leader Maria Corina Machado called on supporters to boycott the May 25 gubernatorial elections.
María Corina Machado urged supporters to boycott the gubernatorial elections, characterizing the vote as illegitimate. It adds that smaller opposition factions, including one led by Henrique Capriles, intended to participate.
Open source reportInside the report, HRW cited credible reports that at least 25 protesters were killed in the immediate aftermath of the election, and over 2,000 people were detained
A Human Rights Watch report alleging at least 25 protesters were killed and more than 2,000 people detained after Venezuela’s July 2024 election. The totals are likely underestimates. No allowed URL for the report was provided.
Open source reportVenezuela bluntly rejected a proposal from El Salvador's Pres. Bukele to swap 252 Venezuelans deported from the U.S. to Salvadoran jail for the same number of political prisoners swept up in Pres. Maduro's post-election crackdown.
Venezuela rejected President Nayib Bukele's proposal to exchange 252 Venezuelans deported from the United States and held in El Salvador for an equal number of Venezuelan political prisoners. Attorney General Tarek Saab called the proposal cynical, while some Venezuelan opposition figures welcomed it.
Open source reportMaduro's attorney general, Tarek Saab (who is under U.S., UK, and EU sanctions for helping Maduro repress democracy in Venezuela), called Bukele's swap proposal "cynical" and accused Bukele of being a (fellow) "serial human rights violator" for his crackdown on gang violence.
Attorney General Tarek Saab called Bukele’s proposal “cynical,” while some Venezuelan opposition figures welcomed it and María Corina Machado had not commented.
Open source reportVenezuela bluntly rejected a proposal from El Salvador's Pres. Bukele to swap 252 Venezuelans deported from the U.S. to Salvadoran jail for the same number of political prisoners swept up in Pres. Maduro's post-election crackdown.
Venezuela rejected a proposal to exchange 252 Venezuelans deported from the United States and jailed in El Salvador for 252 political prisoners held in Venezuela.
Open source reportthe U.S. resumed deportation flights to Venezuela via Honduras after striking a deal with both Venezuela and Honduras over the weekend.
Deportation flights resumed after the United States reached arrangements with Venezuela and Honduras over the preceding weekend.
Open source reportRystad Energy thinks the threat of new tariffs will lead those buyers to seek other sources of oil, which should be fairly easy for all four countries: Venezuelan oil is not a major share of total oil imports for any of them.
According to Rystad Energy, the judgment that tariff exposure would encourage China, the United States, Spain, and India to seek alternative oil supplies and that replacement should be relatively easy because Venezuelan oil represents a limited share of their imports.
Open source reportannounced plans to impose a punitive 25% tariff on all imports from countries that buy oil from Venezuela - even indirectly.
Trump announced a 25% tariff on imports from countries that purchase Venezuelan oil, including indirect purchasers.
Open source reportPres. Trump accused Pres. Maduro's government of "purposefully and deceitfully" sending criminals and murderers - i.e. the Tren de Aragua gang - to the U.S.
President Trump accused President Nicolás Maduro’s government of deliberately sending criminals; Tren de Aragua members to the United States.
Open source reportU.S. envoy Richard Grenell announced on X that deportation flights to Venezuela will resume tomorrow. Pres. Maduro's government briefly blocked the flights to retaliate for the U.S. suspension of Chevron's operating license in Venezuela
U.S. envoy Richard Grenell announced that deportation flights to Venezuela would resume on March 14, 2025. The Maduro government had briefly blocked the flights following the U.S. suspension of Chevron’s operating license.
Open source reportPres. Trump announced that he was cancelling Biden-era concessions that allowed Chevron to continue producing and exporting Venezuelan oil because Pres. Maduro failed to implement promised electoral and immigration reforms.
Trump canceled Biden-era concessions that allowed Chevron to produce and export Venezuelan oil, citing Maduro’s failure to implement electoral and immigration reforms. The license generated an estimated $4 billion for the Venezuelan state and covered about one-quarter of national oil production while active.
Open source reportAnother opposition activist, Reinaldo Araujo, died in Venezuelan jail from chronic health problems that deteriorated since his arrest on Jan. 9. Opposition-linked NGOs estimate 20 political prisoners have now died in detention.
Reinaldo Araujo died in jail after chronic health problems worsened following his January 9 arrest. Opposition-linked NGOs estimating that 20 political prisoners have died in detention; María Corina Machado blamed Nicolás Maduro's government.
Open source reportGonzález met with Guatemala's Pres. Arévalo, and will probably pay visits to other regional leaders to rally support for his opposition, but it faces a tough uphill battle amidst Maduro's relentless crackdown.
González will visit additional regional leaders to rally support but Venezuela’s opposition faces a difficult struggle amid Maduro’s crackdown.
Open source reportPres. Maduro announced the arrest of seven foreign "mercenaries" who he says were planning "terrorist acts" to disrupt his (illegitimate) inauguration on Friday.
According to Nicolás Maduro, the claim that authorities arrested two Colombians, three Ukrainians, and two U.S. citizens for planning terrorist acts to disrupt his inauguration.
Open source reportTarek Saab, announced that 233 more political prisoners were be released... Saab claims the government has now released 956 prisoners... but rights groups haven't been able to independently corroborate that count.
Attorney General Tarek Saab announced the release of 233 additional political prisoners; 956 detainees had been released in total. Rights groups had not independently corroborated that count.
Open source reportNew sanctions target the head of the supreme court, two judges, a prosecutor, and a member of the electoral body.
Canada imposed sanctions on senior Venezuelan officials, including the head of the supreme court, two judges, a prosecutor and a member of the electoral body, over their role in the disputed election.
Open source reportThe UN's High Commissioner for Human Rights said his agency has been "able to resume partly our activities" in Venezuela after a hiatus of nearly ten months.
The UN human-rights office partially resumed operations after an approximately ten-month hiatus and had ordered the government not to destroy election records. This is a possible investigation into the disputed July election and alleges.
Open source reportGuyana submitted a "final" written brief in its 125-year-old territorial dispute with Venezuela to the International Court of Justice (ICJ), which claims jurisdiction over the case.
Guyana submitted a final written brief to the International Court of Justice in its territorial dispute with Venezuela. Venezuela had until August 8 to reply, with oral arguments to be scheduled afterward.
Open source reportMaduro has repeatedly tried to blame Venezuela's economic woes - and now migrant flight resulting from those woes - on sanctions, but the truth is that Venezuelan GDP declined in every year from 2013, when Maduro took office, through 2019, when sanctions went into effect.
Venezuela’s economic decline predated the 2019 sanctions cited by Maduro and rejects sanctions as the primary explanation for migrant flight.
Open source reporthe said that if the U.S. lifts its sanctions on Venezuela, then "in less than a year, not a single immigrant will go to the U.S."
Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro offered to halt migration to the United States within a year if Washington lifted sanctions on Venezuela.
Open source reportPres. Maduro's government announced yet another investigation into "crimes of treason against the country" by opposition leader Maria Corina Machado.
Nicolás Maduro’s government announced another investigation into treason by opposition leader María Corina Machado. Maduro linked Machado to U.S. sanctions and that opposition vote tallies showed he lost the election.
Open source reportVenezuela's opposition leader, Maria Corina Machado, called for a new day of demonstrations against Pres. Maduro's election theft on Dec 1.
María Corina Machado called for demonstrations on December 1. Venezuela’s interior minister accused her of organizing another conspiracy and that police deployed around the Argentine Embassy, where opposition figures were sheltering.
Open source reportThe U.S. formally recognized Edmundo Gonzalez Urrutia as the "president-elect" of Venezuela.
The United States formally recognized Edmundo Gonzalez Urrutia as Venezuela’s president-elect. Opposition tallies showing him defeating Maduro by nearly two to one; Gonzalez fled to Spain in September amid fears for his life.
Open source reportearly indications suggest the explosion happened because of poor maintenance and outdated equipment rather than sabotage.
Poor maintenance and outdated equipment, rather than sabotage, were the likely cause of the explosion.
Open source reportA gas pipeline exploded at the Muscar Operations Center in Venezuela's Eastern Monagas state yesterday, injuring at least five.
A gas pipeline exploded on November 11, injuring at least five people and causing PDVSA to shut down supply from a facility described as providing 63% of Venezuela’s fuel. The duration of the constraint was unclear.
Open source reportHowever, Maduro's optimism seems misplaced. During his first term, Trump tightened sanctions on Venezuela so much that Maduro's government cut off diplomatic relations with the U.S.
Maduro’s outreach unlikely to succeed, citing sanctions imposed during Trump’s first term and the subsequent severing of diplomatic relations.
Open source reportPres. Maduro congratulated Pres.-elect Trump on his election victory and expressed hope for a "new beginning that we trust will be a win-win" for both countries.
President Nicolás Maduro congratulated President-elect Trump and expressed hope for a mutually beneficial new beginning, while acknowledging that Trump’s first administration had not gone well for Venezuela.
Open source reportthe U.S. Dept. of Justice charged Raul Gorrin Belisario - a Maduro crony who owns the pro-government Globovision news network - with laundering $1.2 billion in "corruptly obtained" oil revenues. Belisario's whereabouts are unknown.
The U.S. Department of Justice charged Globovision owner Raul Gorrin Belisario with laundering $1.2 billion in corrupt oil proceeds and that his whereabouts were unknown.
Open source reportThe EU parliament awarded its Sakharov Prize... to Venezuelan opposition figures Maria Corina Machado and Edmundo Gonzalez Urrutia.
The European Parliament awarded the Sakharov Prize to María Corina Machado and Edmundo González Urrutia and reaffirmed support for Venezuela’s opposition.
Open source reportVenezuelan police arrested former oil minister Pedro Tellechea and accused him of sharing key internal documents from state oil company PDVSA with "a company controlled by the US Intelligence Services."
Police arrested former oil minister Pedro Tellechea and accused him of sharing internal PDVSA documents with a company controlled by U.S. intelligence. He had recently resigned as industry minister for health reasons and was the fourth of five oil ministers serving since 2017 to face arrest on similar allegations.
Open source reportVenezuelans know that I am here in Venezuela, the people know it and Nicolas Maduro also knows it.
Opposition leader María Corina Machado denied President Nicolás Maduro’s claim that she had fled to Spain. She said she remained in Venezuela while concealing her location from authorities seeking her arrest; The allegations against her as politically motivated.
Open source reportAppeals like Machado's may help turn the tide.
Personnel across Venezuela’s armed forces quietly support the opposition; Machado’s appeal may help shift military allegiance.
Open source reportOpposition leader Maria Corina Machado made a moving audio appeal to Venezuelan soldiers to stop supporting a "regime that's on its way out" and join the opposition in forming a "new republic."
Opposition leader María Corina Machado issued an audio appeal urging members of Venezuela’s armed forces to stop supporting the government and help form a new republic.
Open source reportVenezuela's sanctioned Attorney General, Tarek Saab, bizarrely accused Brazil's Pres. Lula and Chile's Pres. Boric of being CIA agents
Venezuelan Attorney General Tarek Saab accused Brazilian President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva and Chilean President Gabriel Boric of being CIA agents amid international challenges to Nicolás Maduro’s claimed reelection.
Open source reportAn Argentine federal court responded to Venezuela's arrest warrant for Argentina's Pres. Milei by ordering the arrest of Pres. Maduro and his top henchman, Diosdado Cabello, for committing crimes against humanity against dissidents.
An Argentine federal court ordered the arrests of Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro and Diosdado Cabello for crimes against humanity, following Venezuela’s warrant for Argentine President Javier Milei.
Open source report“Venezuela argues that Argentina illegally seized a Venezuelan Emtrasur Cargo Boeing 747-300FM plane in Aug. 2022 - at the request of the U.S.”
Venezuela considers Argentina’s August 2022 seizure of an Emtrasur Cargo Boeing 747-300FM, at Washington’s request, illegal. Milei is unlikely to travel to Venezuela and risk arrest.
Open source report“Tarek Saab, instructed prosecutors to issue arrest warrants for Argentina's President Javier Milei, the head of Milei's office... and Argentina's Security Minister.”
Venezuelan Attorney General Tarek Saab instructed prosecutors to seek arrest warrants for Argentine President Javier Milei, the head of his office, and Argentina’s security minister over the seizure of a Venezuelan Emtrasur cargo aircraft.
Open source report“Jorge Rodriguez then tried to blackmail Gonzalez into recanting his claim... by threatening to release an audio recording that Rodriguez says will disprove Gonzalez.”
Jorge Rodríguez presented González’s signed letter at a televised press conference and threatened to release an audio recording he claimed would disprove González’s coercion allegation.
Open source report“Delcy Rodriguez, forced him to sign a letter recognizing Maduro's fraudulent victory after ‘very tense hours of coercion, blackmail and pressure.’”
The exiled González that Vice President Delcy Rodríguez forced him to sign a letter recognizing Nicolás Maduro’s claimed election victory after hours of coercion, blackmail, and pressure.
Open source reportThose that didn't flee are being rounded up in Pres. Maduro's Operation Knock Knock - a nationwide manhunt for people who attended opposition protests or posted pro-opposition content online. Thousands have been arrested so far.
“Operation Knock Knock” is a government campaign targeting people who attended opposition demonstrations or posted opposition content online; thousands have been arrested.
Open source reportOpposition leader Maria Corina Machado vowed to stay in Venezuela and "take part in the struggle from here" while the candidate she supported in July's election, Edmundo Gonzalez, supports the cause from exile in Spain.
Opposition leader María Corina Machado vowed to continue her political struggle from Venezuela while former presidential candidate Edmundo González supports the opposition from exile in Spain. Election observers fled to Colombia after questioning the July election results.
Open source report“Everyone knows that [opposition candidate] Edmundo González is the president-elect.”
Opposition leader María Corina Machado declared Edmundo González president-elect and called on the United States to do more to punish President Nicolás Maduro. A State Department spokesperson said Washington was considering options to impose consequences for Maduro’s governance.
Open source reportVenezuela detained a U.S. Navy sailor who was "on some sort of personal travel" to the country without official approval from the Navy... The circumstances of his detention are unclear
Venezuelan authorities detained a U.S. Navy sailor who had traveled to the country personally and without Navy authorization. The circumstances were unclear; its speculation about possible citizenship or family connections is not specific evidence about this case.
Open source reportPres. Maduro announced that Christmas in Venezuela will take place almost three months early this year, on October 1.
President Nicolás Maduro announced an October 1 start to Christmas; the Venezuelan Episcopal Conference objected to using the holiday for political or propaganda purposes. The move is an attempt to distract from the disputed presidency and reward loyal supporters.
Open source reportA Venezuelan court issued an arrest warrant for Edmundo Gonzalez - the opposition candidate who defeated Pres. Maduro in the July 28 presidential election - on charges of "usurpation," conspiracy, and sabotage.
Gonzalez was charged with usurpation, conspiracy and sabotage amid the disputed 28 July presidential election. The warrant is an escalation against the opposition; Gonzalez and María Corina Machado remained in hiding while continuing their campaign.
Open source reportWith Diosdado Cabello now appointed Minister for the Interior, Justice, and Peace; we can expect the crackdown to worsen.
That repression will worsen following Diosdado Cabello’s reported appointment is interior, justice and peace minister, citing his previous call to imprison María Corina Machado and Edmundo González.
Open source reportPerkins Rocha - opposition leader Marina Corina Machado's lawyer and close confidante - was among those arrested this week.
Venezuelan security forces arrested Perkins Rocha, described as opposition leader María Corina Machado’s lawyer and confidant.
Open source reportDelpino... told the NYT that his council "had not received any evidence" that Maduro won a majority of the vote, and lamented that the CNE had "failed the country."
National Electoral Council member Juan Carlos Delpino told The New York Times that the council had received no evidence showing Nicolás Maduro won a majority; the institution had failed the country.
Open source reportHe shuffled about half of his ministers, but in a way that won't meaningfully affect policy: he rewarded diehard loyalists like VP Delcy Rodriguez and PSUV party leader Diosdado Cabello with expanded roles.
Maduro reshuffled about half his ministers and expanded roles for Vice President Delcy Rodriguez and PSUV leader Diosdado Cabello. The changes reward loyalists rather than meaningfully changing policy.
Open source reportPres. Maduro refuses to give up his claim that he won the vote - and also refuses to provide proof. Meanwhile, the opposition has offered online tallies confirming its candidate, Edmundo Gonzalez, won more than twice as many votes as Maduro.
President Nicolás Maduro continued to claim victory without publishing proof, while the opposition posted tallies that show Edmundo Gonzalez receiving more than twice Maduro’s vote total.
Open source reportVenezuela's opposition called for a fourth round of mass demonstrations at 11 am Caracas time today to demand recognition of its victory in the election that happened exactly one month ago.
The opposition called mass demonstrations for 11 a.m. Caracas time on August 28, one month after the election, to demand recognition of its claimed victory. Authorities detained thousands of people, including for questioning the results online.
Open source reportMaduro and the CNE have ignored much more strongly-worded critiques than that, so the EU's diplomatic comments are unlikely to change their thinking.
The EU’s diplomatic response is unlikely to change the thinking of Nicolás Maduro or Venezuela’s National Electoral Council.
Open source reportThe EU issued a gently-worded condemnation of Pres. Maduro's election theft, calling on Venezuela's National Electoral Council (CNE) to release official voting records (or actas), and pointing out that - given currently publicly-available actas - "Edmundo González Urrutia would appear to be the winner of the presidential election by a significant majority."
The EU asked Venezuela’s National Electoral Council to publish official voting records; currently available records appeared to show Edmundo González Urrutia winning the presidential election by a significant majority.
Open source reportThe opposition, meanwhile, has released online tallies showing that its candidate, Edmundo Gonzalez, won seven million votes to Maduro's three million. The court said the opposition's tallies were forged.
Venezuela’s Supreme Tribunal certified Nicolás Maduro’s election victory without publicly releasing supporting tally reports. The opposition published tallies showing seven million votes for Edmundo González and three million for Maduro, while the court characterized those tallies as forged. The post also alleges.
Open source reportIf he's allowed to stay, an analysis by Meganalisis suggests that over 40% of Venezuela's remaining population of seven million may flee the country by the end of this year.
A Meganalisis forecast that more than 40% of Venezuela’s stated remaining population of seven million could leave by year-end, potentially increasing pressure on Colombia and Brazil.
Open source reportDespite global weekend protests against Pres. Maduro's theft of last month's election, Maduro hasn't budged. The Carnegie Endowment wrote that Maduro "has dug in and is waiting for global attention to move elsewhere."
Nicolás Maduro has not changed course following international protests over Venezuela’s disputed election and quotes a Carnegie Endowment characterization that he is waiting for global attention to shift.
Open source reportThe opposition is organizing global protests against Maduro's stolen election on Saturday, Aug. 17.
Edmundo Gonzalez and Maria Corina Machado remained in hiding because of safety and arrest concerns, while the opposition organized international demonstrations for Aug. 17. Gonzalez is the election winner.
Open source reportPres. Maduro ordered his defense council to intensify a crackdown on the opposition with "greater speed, greater efficiency and an iron fist."
Nicolás Maduro directed his defense council to accelerate a crackdown, encouraged citizens to report election-result skeptics through a state application and ordered prison upgrades for additional detainees.
Open source reportBrazil, Colombia, and Mexico are urging Pres. Maduro and the opposition to respect Venezuelan law and lodge their appeals over the election... the three leftist-led countries have declined to recognize Maduro's re-election.
Brazil, Colombia and Mexico urged President Nicolás Maduro and the opposition to pursue election appeals through Venezuelan institutions while declining to recognize Maduro’s claimed reelection. Maduro was surprised by opposition support and blamed “international Zionism” for what he called a media-backed coup.
Open source reportOpposition leader Maria Corina Machado told the WSJ she's currently in hiding and "fearing for my life, my freedom" after Maduro allies called for her arrest and that of González
Opposition leader María Corina Machado is quoted as saying she was in hiding and feared for her life and freedom after allies of Nicolás Maduro called for her arrest and that of Edmundo González.
Open source reportU.S. SecState Blinken formally recognized Edmundo González as the winner of last week's disputed election in Venezuela
U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken formally recognized Edmundo González as the winner of Venezuela’s disputed 28 July presidential election.
Open source reportPres. Maduro declared victory in yesterday's election. So did his opposition opponent, Edmundo González... Electoral authorities also prevented the public from fact-checking its count by refusing to release paper tallies printed by voting machines at key polling places.
Nicolás Maduro claimed 51.2% of the vote while opposition candidate Edmundo González also declared victory. Widespread irregularities, exclusion of opposition figure @MariaCorinaYA, and authorities’ refusal to release paper tallies from key polling places.
Open source reportÁvila did come to her defense, and he was promptly arrested for it. This is only the latest example of Maduro's security forces intimidating the opposition ahead of the election.
Authorities arrested María Corina Machado’s security chief, Milciades Ávila, after an provocation. Nicolás Maduro appeared 13 times on the ballot and identifies Edmundo González as the principal opposition candidate.
Open source reportMaduro is already manipulating the vote by bullying the opposition and blocking its strongest candidates from running against him.
Pressure on the opposition and the exclusion of leading candidates have already compromised the election.
Open source reportPres. Maduro uninvited European Union observers from monitoring his farcical July 28 presidential election on hyperbolic grounds that EU compliance with "genocidal sanctions" on Venezuela is "interventionist."
President Nicolás Maduro withdrew an invitation for European Union observers to monitor Venezuela’s July 28 presidential election, citing EU sanctions; interventionism. The EU had not accepted the invitation.
Open source reportVenezuela's oil minister, Pedro Tellechea, told Reuters that his ministry is exploring cryptocurrencies as a way to receive payments for oil sales once U.S. sanctions sink back in.
According to Oil Minister Pedro Tellechea, a statement that Venezuela is considering cryptocurrency to receive oil-sale payments after U.S. sanctions return. The discontinued Petro would not be used following an earlier corruption scandal.
Open source reportall 10 parties in the main opposition coalition aligned behind a relatively unknown former diplomat, Edmundo González, as their candidate.
All 10 parties in the main opposition coalition backed former diplomat Edmundo González for the July presidential election after María Corina Machado remained barred from running.
Open source reportU.S. companies doing business in the Venezuelan oil sector will have 45 days to wind down their sales, and the exceptional license granted to Chevron (which is currently producing about 90,000 barrels per day in Venezuela) may even remain valid after that.
A six-month U.S. authorization for Venezuelan oil sales expired, leaving affected U.S. companies 45 days to wind down transactions. Chevron’s separate authorization may remain valid and attributes current Venezuelan production of about 90,000 barrels per day to the company.
Open source reportThe license had been granted in exchange for a commitment from Pres. Maduro to hold free and fair elections this year, but he broke that commitment by continuing to crack down on the opposition and scuppering their chances against him in July's election.
The license had been conditioned on free and fair elections; President Nicolás Maduro violated that commitment by suppressing the opposition before the July election.
Open source reportQuiet talks between the U.S. and Venezuela over extending Venezuela's temporary sanctions relief broke down, and the U.S. allowed a six-month oil sales license to expire at midnight this morning.
Talks over extending temporary sanctions relief failed and the United States allowed a six-month Venezuelan oil-sales license to expire.
Open source reportit's not clear whether there was actually an assassination attempt involved - this could have been another politically-motivated arrest.
Venezuelan authorities arrested an activist accused of plotting to assassinate President Nicolás Maduro. Questions remain about that allegation; the detention could instead be politically motivated amid arrests of activists and dissidents before the July election.
Open source reportVenezuela arrested two more senior energy officials as part of an investigation into billions of dollars that went missing in a crypto fraud at state oil company PDVSA.
Venezuela arrested two vice ministers in an investigation into billions of dollars missing through a cryptocurrency-related fraud at state oil company PDVSA. The arrests are linked to the earlier detention of former oil minister Tarek el Aissami.
Open source reportPetro is trying to stay in Maduro's good graces because he wants to sign a deal that would see Colombia's Ecopetrol produce Venezuelan oil and gas.
Petro wants to preserve favorable relations with Maduro to pursue an agreement under which Colombia’s Ecopetrol would produce Venezuelan oil and gas.
Open source reporthe actually only met with Socialist Party-approved "opposition" candidate Manuel Rosales, and he did so with Pres. Maduro's approval.
Colombian President Gustavo Petro met Manuel Rosales rather than representatives of the opposition aligned with Maria Corina Machado. Rosales are a government-approved opposition candidate; the meeting occurred with President Nicolás Maduro’s approval.
Open source reportThe U.S. denied Pres. Maduro's allegations that it runs - or has future plans to run - "secret military bases" in the Guyanese region Venezuela disputes and calls Essequibo.
Washington denied Maduro's claim that the United States operates or plans to operate secret military bases in the Guyanese territory claimed by Venezuela. Maduro's allegation was intended to mobilize domestic supporters.
Open source report