Relatives and human rights organizations confirmed the release of at least 87 people detained for political reasons, although they warn that dozens remain imprisoned in the Aragua penitentiary.
The Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC) of the U.S. Department of the Treasury announced the designation of ten individuals and entities based in Venezuela and Iran, whom it accuses of participating in the proliferation of unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs), ballistic missile components, and other Iranian military capabilities. This action is part of the context of the reimposition of United Nations sanctions against Tehran in 2025.
A new regional report reveals that Venezuelan migrants are not only integrating into the labor market and consumer base but are also contributing billions of dollars in taxes, investment, and economic dynamism in their host countries, debunking myths about their fiscal impact.
In an oral update before the UN Human Rights Council, High Commissioner Volker Türk denounced the closing of civic space, arbitrary detentions, and forced disappearances in Venezuela, while calling for a review of sanctions and urging against an escalation of international confrontation that worsens the impact on the civilian population.
The European Union has decided to extend the existing restrictive measures against Venezuela for another year, until January 10, 2027. The EU considers that actions undermining democracy and the rule of law persist, along with human rights violations and repressive practices against civil society and the political opposition. The Council’s decision is also adopted in light of events related to the presidential elections of July 28, 2024, and their subsequent development.
The National Assembly approved unanimously this Thursday the Law for Palestine and Humanity and the Law Repealing the Rome Statute, a step that initiates the formal process to withdraw the country from the International Criminal Court. The document was sent immediately to the Executive Branch for evaluation and diplomatic execution.
In a conversation that even surprised regional allies, Presidents Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva and Nicolás Maduro held their first phone call of the year. The Brazilian president expressed his concern over the US military presence in the Caribbean and made clear his willingness to facilitate a “political way out amid increasing pressures from Donald Trump.”
Russia and Belarus are doubling down on their support for the Venezuelan leader amid increasing signs that he might seek refuge abroad, as Washington deploys forces to the Caribbean and Donald Trump warns that Nicolás Maduro’s “days are numbered.”
Donald Trump confirmed that US forces confiscated a “large oil tanker” off the coast of Venezuela. The operation, initially revealed by Bloomberg, represents a significant escalation in the bilateral conflict and threatens to further complicate Venezuelan crude exports, at a time of increasing military pressure and sanctions. The incident coincides with the day María Corina Machado received the Nobel Peace Prize.
The 2025 Nobel Peace Prize ceremony was marked by the absence of the laureate,María Corina Machado, whose daughter, Ana Corina Sosa Machado, read the acceptance speech on her behalf. The reading took place hours after The Wall Street Journal reported that Machado had left Venezuela for Curaçao by boat, in an operation that—according to U.S. officials cited by the outlet—was organized to ensure her safety. The Bloomberg agency added that it involved internal collaboration from officials linked to the administration of Nicolás Maduro.
