About our Venezuela news
Latest news on Venezuela, covering US tensions, Maduro government, oil economy, migration crisis, and political developments in this South American nation.
Venezuela is a country of approximately 28 million people in northern South America, home to the world's largest proven oil reserves at over 300 billion barrels. Once one of the region's wealthiest nations, it has experienced severe economic and political turmoil under President Nicolás Maduro, who assumed power following the death of Hugo Chávez in 2013. Nearly 8 million Venezuelans have fled the country in one of the largest mass migrations in modern history.
Tensions between Venezuela and the United States have escalated sharply, with Washington deploying a large naval fleet to the Caribbean, including the USS Gerald R. Ford aircraft carrier. The US has conducted strikes on vessels it alleges are involved in drug trafficking, with the Maduro government denying any links to narcotics operations. President Donald Trump has designated Venezuela's Cartel de los Soles a foreign terrorist organisation, raised the bounty on Maduro to $50 million, and threatened to extend military operations to land targets. The US also seized an oil tanker off Venezuelan waters, which Caracas condemned as "international piracy".
Opposition leader María Corina Machado was awarded the 2025 Nobel Peace Prize for her campaign to restore democracy. Barred from running in the disputed July 2024 presidential election and forced into hiding, she dramatically escaped Venezuela to collect her prize in Oslo, where her daughter accepted the award on her behalf. Venezuela maintains close ties with Russia, China and Cuba, with President Vladimir Putin affirming solidarity with Caracas amid US pressure.
Venezuela's modern history is deeply intertwined with oil. The country was a founding member of OPEC and once produced nearly 3 million barrels daily. However, production has collapsed to under 1 million barrels per day due to underinvestment, mismanagement and sanctions. The Bolivarian Revolution launched by Chávez redirected oil revenues into social programmes but left the economy vulnerable to price shocks, contributing to the severe humanitarian crisis that continues today.
Our NewsNow feed on Venezuela provides comprehensive, constantly updated coverage from reliable sources worldwide. Whether you're following US-Venezuela tensions, opposition movements, economic developments or the humanitarian situation, this feed offers the latest news and analysis on this strategically important nation.