The United States has escalated its standoff with Venezuela, deploying three naval destroyers to the Caribbean in what Washington calls a renewed push against drug cartels. Officials say the mission aims to disrupt narcotics flows into American cities, but the move also underscores the White House’s refusal to recognise Nicolás Maduro as Venezuela’s legitimate president.
Relations between the two nations have long been strained, but under Donald Trump they reached a new level of confrontation. His administration imposed sweeping sanctions, backed opposition leader Juan Guaidó, and accused Maduro of running what U.S. prosecutors described as a “narco-terrorist” network. Federal indictments and asset seizures followed, while Caracas responded with accusations of imperial aggression and calls for resistance.
The latest deployment deepens this cycle of hostility. While U.S. forces present the operation as counter-narcotics, Venezuela has mobilised its militias and insists foreign troops will never dictate its future. For Washington, the move signals both resolve and reach, but for Caracas it reinforces the narrative of sovereignty under siege.
In this edition of NewsHour, Guy Shone examines the history of U.S.–Venezuela relations, the political stakes of the naval presence, and what might lie ahead for one of the hemisphere’s most fraught rivalries.
On 1 July, President of the European Commission Ursula von der Leyen arrived in Azerbaijan on a working visit....
Iranian and U.S. negotiating teams were due in Doha this week, but Iran said on Monday no meeting had been scheduled as weekend missile fire from both...
German prosecutors have arrested a German-Rwandan national on suspicion of aiding genocide and 25 counts of murder during the 1994 Rwandan genocide, a...
South African police arrested more than 900 people during nationwide anti-migrant protests on Tuesday (30 June), as demonstrations across the country ...
At least five people have died after a fire swept through a 10-storey apartment building in the Belgian city of Antwerp, authorities said on Wednesday...
On 1 July, President of the European Commission Ursula von der Leyen arrived in Azerbaijan on a working visit.
German prosecutors have arrested a German-Rwandan national on suspicion of aiding genocide and 25 counts of murder during the 1994 Rwandan genocide, authorities said on Wednesday (1 July).
South African police arrested more than 900 people during nationwide anti-migrant protests on Tuesday (30 June), as demonstrations across the country turned violent in some areas, although most remained peaceful.
At least five people have died after a fire swept through a 10-storey apartment building in the Belgian city of Antwerp, authorities said on Wednesday.
Iranian and U.S. negotiating teams were due in Doha this week, but Iran said on Monday no meeting had been scheduled as weekend missile fire from both sides tested the interim ceasefire to end the four-month-old war.
The U.S. and Iran have agreed to 'stand down' and resume technical talks, allowing vessels allowed to move freely under the interim peace deal, a U.S. official said.
Iran has ruled out direct talks with senior U.S. envoys in the Gulf, saying any contact will take place through Qatari mediators. Meanwhile, Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner have met in Doha with Qatar's PM Sheikh Mohammed bin Abdulrahman bin Jassim Al Thani.
The wife and children of Argentine footballer Lucas Trejo were among around 1,700 people who died when two earthquakes struck northern Venezuela last week.
Mexico ended their 40-year wait for a World Cup knockout win, while Erling Haaland sent Norway through and Kylian Mbappé fired France into the last 16.
In a special edition of Context, Orkhan Amashov reports from Washington on the inaugural meeting of the Board of Peace, examining plans for Gaza’s reconstruction, a proposed stabilisation force, and the wider diplomatic impact of the U.S.-led initiative.
Here are the latest stories from AnewZ’s Africa News programme, focusing on political and security developments across the African continent.
Here are the latest stories from AnewZ’s Africa News programme, focusing on political and security developments across the African continent.
The following story summaries are from AnewZ’s Africa News programme, focusing on political and security developments across Africa and beyond.
In today’s Prime Time, we covered the following conversations: Azerbaijan has shipped petroleum products to Armenia by rail for the first time in decades, marking a significant step toward economic cooperation and regional integration in the South Caucasus.
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