Venezuela

Venezuela, home to the world’s largest proven oil reserves, faces a deepening crisis as competing factions vie for control of the state and its resources [52069]. The country's political turmoil has drawn direct intervention from the United States, including a military operation that resulted in the arrest of President Nicolás Maduro [52050, 52207]. Following Maduro's ouster, the chief of the U.S. Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) held secret talks in Caracas with the new interim leader [51799, 51998, 52211]. The U.S. has explicitly backed the interim government, seeking an "improved relationship" while engaging with the remnants of Maduro's regime [51984, 51987, 52047]. This political instability has crippled the economy, with one in four Venezuelans now requiring urgent humanitarian aid according to the United Nations (UN) [52020]. Grocery prices have skyrocketed following the U.S. raid, further straining households [53035]. Despite the change in leadership, power on the streets remains with the same armed groups and political machines that supported the former government [53030]. The opposition, which courts U.S. support and promises a "Pro-America" future, warns that Maduro's allies do not represent the people [52100, 52202]. Meanwhile, former exiles find that even with Maduro gone, returning home remains a distant prospect [52525]. The U.S. has begun purchasing Venezuelan oil again, a move that clashes with previous "no risk" rules for investors and raises questions about future gas prices [52439, 52524]. This economic re-engagement occurs alongside a U.S. proposal for a global "Board of Peace," modeled on a Gaza plan, to address conflicts in Ukraine and Venezuela [52059]. The geopolitical maneuvering has left other powers like Russia and China, who were invested in Maduro's government, strategically trapped [53342]. <a href='/news/51799'>CIA Chief Meets Venezuela's New Leader in Secret Caracas Talks</a> <a href='/news/51984'>CIA Chief's Secret Venezuela Trip: U.S. Seeks "Improved Relationship"</a> <a href='/news/51998'>CIA Chief in Secret Venezuela Talks After Maduro's Ouster</a> <a href='/news/52020'>One in Four Venezuelans Requires Urgent Aid, UN Says</a> <a href='/news/52047'>CIA Chief in Secret Venezuela Meeting: U.S. Backs Interim Government</a> <a href='/news/52050'>Venezuela's Opposition Leader Claims Mandate After U.S. Arrests President</a> <a href='/news/52059'>US Proposes Global "Board of Peace," Modeled on Gaza Plan, for Ukraine and Venezuela</a> <a href='/news/52069'>Venezuela Crisis Exposes Limits of China's Global Strategy</a> <a href='/news/52100'>Venezuela Opposition Warns U.S.: Maduro's Ally Is Not the People</a> <a href='/news/52202'>Venezuela Opposition Lays Out Plan for "Pro-America" Future</a> <a href='/news/52207'>Venezuela Claims 47 Soldiers Killed in U.S. Operation to Capture Maduro</a> <a href='/news/52211'>CIA Chief Meets Venezuela's New Leader in Secret Caracas Talks</a> <a href='/news/52439'>U.S. Buys Venezuelan Oil: Will Gas Prices Drop?</a> <a href='/news/52524'>Trump's Venezuela Push Clashes With Oil's "No Risk" Rule</a> <a href='/news/52525'>Venezuela's Exiles: Even With Maduro Gone, Home is Distant</a> <a href='/news/53030'>Venezuela's Power Shift? The Same Man Controls the Streets.</a> <a href='/news/53035'>Venezuela's Grocery Bills Skyrocket After U.S. Raid</a> <a href='/news/53342'>Trump's Venezuela Move Traps Russia and China</a>