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.
The death toll from Sunday's collision between a derailing high-speed train and a second oncoming train in southern Spain has risen to 40, dozens more...
Portugal’s far-right leader André Ventura is using the presidential race to consolidate political power rather than to secure the office itself, ac...
French Prime Minister Sébastien Lecornu said on Monday (19 January) that the government will use special constitutional powers to force the passage o...
Syrian President Ahmed al-Sharaa and U.S. President Donald Trump discussed developments in Syria during a phone call on Monday, including Kurdish righ...
Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan said on Monday (19 January) that an agreement reached between the Syrian government and Kurdish-led forces mus...
Portugal’s far-right leader André Ventura is using the presidential race to consolidate political power rather than to secure the office itself, according to a senior political analyst, who says the real objective lies in strengthening his position ahead of future parliamentary elections.
French Prime Minister Sébastien Lecornu said on Monday (19 January) that the government will use special constitutional powers to force the passage of the 2026 budget without a parliamentary vote, despite earlier pledges to avoid doing so.
Syrian President Ahmed al-Sharaa and U.S. President Donald Trump discussed developments in Syria during a phone call on Monday, including Kurdish rights and cooperation against Islamic State, the Syrian presidency said.
Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan said on Monday (19 January) that an agreement reached between the Syrian government and Kurdish-led forces must be implemented swiftly, including the full integration of fighters, as Ankara pushes for lasting stability in Syria.
Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni said on Saturday (17 January) that concerns over security in Greenland should be addressed within the framework of NATO, describing a ground military intervention as highly unlikely.
Elon Musk is seeking up to $134 billion from OpenAI and Microsoft, arguing that the companies profited unfairly from his early support of the artificial intelligence firm, according to a court filing made public on Friday.
Italian fashion designer Valentino Garavani has died at the age of 93, his foundation said on Monday.
European leaders voiced growing alarm on Sunday over U.S. threats to impose tariffs on eight NATO allies, warning the move could destabilize transatlantic relations and heighten tensions in the Arctic.
Syrian President Ahmed al-Sharaa has signed a decree recognising Kurdish language rights, as government forces advanced against U.S.-backed Kurdish-led fighters despite U.S. calls for restraint.
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.
You can download the AnewZ application from Play Store and the App Store.
What is your opinion on this topic?
Leave the first comment