Venezuela

Venezuela suspends 19 oil, gas production-sharing contracts signed under Maduro, sources say

Venezuela's oil ministry suspends 19 production-sharing contracts, including projects in Lake Maracaibo and the Orinoco Belt, as part of a broader review of deals linked to US sanctions.

An illustration of oil rigs over a background of a Venezuelan flag.
Captured Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro is escorted, as he heads towards the Daniel Patrick Moynihan United States Courthouse in Manhattan, earlier this month. The handling of Maduro’s transportation to New York was done without discretion to send a message, the writer says.

US blocks Venezuelan govt. from paying for Maduro's legal representation in drug trafficking case

A Cuban soldier waves a national flag as he takes part in the "Anti-Imperialist" protest in front of the US Embassy against the US incursion in Venezuela, where 32 Cuban soldiers lost their lives, in Havana on January 16, 2026.

Four killed after boat from Florida entered Cuban waters, occupants opened fire

US forces prepare to board the vessel Veronica III, which tried to defy US President Donald Trump's quarantine, according to the US Department of Defense, in this screengrab obtained from a handout video released on February 15, 2026.

US military seizes third sanctioned oil tanker in Indian Ocean, Pentagon says


Cuban military, medical advisers leave Venezuela as US pressure mounts on Rodriguez

Venezuela’s Delcy Rodriguez faces US pressure to cut ties with Cuba, leading to the departure of Cuban security advisers and medical personnel from the country.

Venezuela's interim president Delcy Rodriguez and Cuban Foreign Minister, Bruno Rodriguez Padilla attend the ceremony "Promotions and Decorations for Heroes and Martyrs", honouring Venezuelan and Cuban military and security personnel who died during a US operation to capture Nicolas Maduro.

The Munich moment that changed everything for Marco Rubio - opinion

From Venezuela to Tehran to Munich, Rubio is no longer just executing policy; he’s shaping a new world order.

US Secretary of State Marco Rubio waves, next to Chairman of the Munich Security Conference Wolfgang Ischinger, as he gets a standing ovation after his speech at the Munich Security Conference in Munich, Germany, Saturday, Feb. 14, 2026.

Suspect charged for stealing Egyptian artifacts from Australia museum, citing church ties - report

The stolen artifacts included a 26th Dynasty rare painted wooden Egyptian cat figure, a 3,300-year-old necklace, a collar, and a mummy mask.

An ancient Egyptian collar stolen from the Abbey Museum of Art and Archaeology in Caboolture, Australia, February 20, 2026.

Top US commander for Latin America makes surprise visit to Venezuela

The trip, along with last week's visit by US Secretary of Energy Chris Wright, is part of US President Donald Trump's efforts to push Venezuela to carry out sweeping reforms.

Commander of the US Southern Command Francis L. Donovan, US Charge d'Affaires to Venezuela Laura Farnsworth Dogu and senior Pentagon official Joseph M. Humire pose for a photo in Caracas, Venezuela, February 18, 2026.

US strikes more suspected drug-smuggling boats as warships shift toward Middle East – report

The Pentagon confirmed three new maritime strikes that killed 11, as US warships previously focused on Venezuela head toward the Middle East.

 The world’s largest aircraft carrier USS Gerald R. Ford arrives at Mediterranean Sea on October 11, 2023

Pentagon faces backlash after using AI model Claude for offensive measures in Maduro capture - WSJ

Anthropic’s public usage policies prohibit Claude from being used to facilitate violence, develop weapons, or conduct surveillance, the Wall Street Journal noted.

an illustrative image of Anthropic's Claude.

US intercepts Iran-linked oil tanker en route from Caribbean to Indian Ocean

'The vessel tried to defy President [Donald] Trump’s quarantine, hoping to slip away,' a DoD statement read, adding, 'By land, air, or sea, we will find you and deliver justice.'

US troops are seen boarding an oil tanker breaching Washington's blockade on sanctioned vessels traveling to or from Venezuela, February 15, 2026.

Maduro still 'legitimate president' of Venezuela, acting leader Delcy Rodriguez tells NBC

Venezuela's Delcy Rodriguez defends Maduro as the rightful leader and signals diplomatic progress with the US, amid growing cooperation and oil sales.

Venezuela's interim President Delcy Rodriguez looks on following a meeting with US Energy Secretary Chris Wright at Miraflores Palace, Caracas, Venezuela, February 11, 2026.

US-led oil sales from Venezuela to bring in $5 billion in months, energy chief Wright tells NBC

Much of the oil is being refined in US refineries, and the administration of US President Donald Trump has handed over proceeds from the sales to Venezuela’s interim government, Chris Wright said.

US Energy Secretary Chris Wright speaks during the sixth meeting of the Transatlantic Energy Cooperation (P-TEC) in Athens, Greece, November 6, 2025. 

Venezuela sends first oil shipment to Israel in years in sign of relations improving - Bloomberg

Israel's Bazan Group will be responsible for transporting the cargo, according to the report, although authorities have not publicly disclosed this.

Oil tanker Bronco sits anchored in Lake Maracaibo, near the Bajo Grande crude port operated by state oil company PDVSA, in Maracaibo, Venezuela, February 9, 2026. (Ilustration)