Venezuela has accused the US of provoking conflict by seizing a fishing boat in its exclusive economic zone, amid rising tensions over US military patrols targeting drug cartels in the Caribbean

A US naval deployment near Venezuela has reignited regime change rumors, but past failed interventions have made many Venezuelans skeptical, while Maduro has responded by claiming to deploy 4,5 million militiamen and denouncing foreign threats

A vital economic lifeline has been regained as the US allowed Chevron to resume oil operations, reviving hopes for growth in a country whose economy has collapsed under years of sanctions and dependence on petroleum exports

The European Parliament has included Venezuela on the EU’s high-risk list for money laundering and terrorism financing, as it has faced increased scrutiny over financial transactions; the country rejected the measure as politically motivated

Former spy chief Hugo Carvajal has pleaded guilty in the US to narco-terrorism charges after helping Venezuelan military officials and Colombian rebels traffic cocaine, signaling a major shift that could implicate Venezuela’s current leadership