Articles in this Cluster
16-01-2026
Venezuelan opposition leader María Corina Machado met with US President Donald Trump at the White House, presenting him with her Nobel Peace Prize medal as a symbol of recognition for his commitment to Venezuela's freedom. Machado's visit came after US forces seized Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro and charged him with drug-trafficking. Trump expressed gratitude for the gesture, but did not endorse Machado as Venezuela's new leader, instead continuing to deal with Maduro's former vice-president, Delcy Rodríguez. Machado had hoped to persuade Trump to back her opposition coalition as the transitional government, but Trump remained non-committal.
Entities: María Corina Machado, Donald Trump, Nobel Peace Prize, Venezuela, United States • Tone: neutral • Sentiment: positive • Intent: inform
16-01-2026
The US has seized a sixth oil tanker linked to Venezuela in the Caribbean Sea as part of its efforts to control the country's oil exports. The tanker, Veronica, was boarded without incident in a predawn operation. The US has been working with Venezuela's interim government to control the country's oil sales, and the seizure is seen as a continuation of this effort. The US has also completed its first sale of Venezuelan oil, valued at $500m. The blockade has sharply curtailed Venezuelan oil exports, with loadings falling by half this month. The US is working to tap into Venezuela's huge oil reserves, with Trump asking oil executives to invest $100bn in the country's energy infrastructure.
Entities: US, Venezuela, Donald Trump, Nicolás Maduro, Maria Corina Machado • Tone: neutral • Sentiment: negative • Intent: inform
16-01-2026
The U.S. Southern Command seized a sixth oil tanker linked to Venezuela in an early morning operation, as part of a quarantine on sanctioned oil tankers. The tanker, Motor/Tanker Veronica, was apprehended by Marines and Sailors from Joint Task Force Southern Spear. This operation is part of Operation Southern Spear, aimed at curbing illicit activity in the Western Hemisphere. The seizure comes as President Trump is set to meet with Venezuelan opposition leader María Corina Machado at the White House. The U.S. has been working to take control of Venezuela's oil, having completed its first sale of Venezuelan oil valued at $500 million.
Entities: U.S. Southern Command, Venezuela, Motor/Tanker Veronica, Joint Task Force Southern Spear, USS Gerald R. Ford • Tone: neutral • Sentiment: negative • Intent: inform
16-01-2026
The U.S. is securing about 30% higher prices for Venezuelan crude oil after capturing former President Nicolas Maduro, according to U.S. Energy Secretary Chris Wright. The U.S. has completed its first sale of Venezuelan oil valued at about $500 million, with more expected in the coming days and weeks. President Donald Trump announced that Venezuela would hand over between 30 million and 50 million barrels of oil currently under U.S. sanctions, which would be sold at prevailing market prices. The proceeds would be controlled by Trump to ensure the funds benefit both Venezuela and the U.S. The U.S. Department of Energy has said the oil sales from Venezuela will continue 'indefinitely.' Trump also announced that oil companies would invest at least $100 billion to rebuild Venezuela's energy sector, with the U.S. providing security to ensure investors earn strong returns.
Entities: U.S., Venezuela, Nicolas Maduro, Chris Wright, Donald Trump • Tone: neutral • Sentiment: positive • Intent: inform
16-01-2026
The article argues that Donald Trump's deal to resume Venezuelan oil production will fail without democracy. Despite the recent deal, the opposition, led by María Corina Machado, remains sidelined, and Nicolás Maduro's corrupt regime persists. The article contends that the opposition's popularity is not translating to power, and that the deal will only serve to further entrench Maduro's regime unless democratic principles are respected. The author warns that ignoring the democratic opposition would be a mistake and that the deal's success is contingent on democratic reforms.
Entities: Donald Trump, Venezuela, Nicolás Maduro, María Corina Machado, American forces • Tone: analytical • Sentiment: negative • Intent: critique
16-01-2026
Venezuelan opposition leader María Corina Machado met with US President Donald Trump at the White House, where she presented him with her Nobel Peace Prize. Machado hoped the gesture would secure US backing for her leadership in post-Maduro Venezuela. However, Trump did not provide a clear endorsement, instead supporting Maduro's ex-Vice President Delcy Rodriguez as acting president. Machado left the meeting with a Trump-branded swag bag and an optimistic view of the discussion, but the outcome remains uncertain.
Entities: María Corina Machado, Donald Trump, Venezuela, Nobel Peace Prize, Nicolás Maduro • Tone: neutral • Sentiment: negative • Intent: inform
16-01-2026
Donald Trump was presented with a Nobel Peace Prize medal by Maria Corina Machado, the Venezuelan opposition leader who won the award last year. Trump accepted the medal, calling it a 'wonderful gesture of mutual respect'. The Nobel committee clarified that the prize cannot be revoked, shared, or transferred to others, contradicting Machado's suggestion that she was sharing it with Trump. The meeting between Trump and Machado comes amid controversy over Trump's stance on Venezuela's leadership, with Trump backing the country's vice president, Delcy Rodríguez, to succeed Nicolas Maduro after a US-backed raid on Caracas.
Entities: Donald Trump, Maria Corina Machado, Venezuela, Nobel Peace Prize, White House • Tone: neutral • Sentiment: negative • Intent: inform
16-01-2026
Venezuelan opposition leader Maria Corina Machado met with US President Donald Trump in Washington DC, presenting him with her Nobel Peace Prize medal in an effort to garner support for regime change in Venezuela. Machado sees Trump as a means to achieve democracy in her homeland, despite his initial reluctance to fully endorse her as a leader. The meeting was part of Machado's charm offensive, aimed at convincing the Trump administration to support a transition in Venezuela beyond just accessing the country's oil reserves.
Entities: Maria Corina Machado, Donald Trump, Venezuela, Nobel Peace Prize, Washington DC • Tone: neutral • Sentiment: positive • Intent: inform
16-01-2026
Venezuelan opposition leader María Corina Machado met with US President Donald Trump at the White House, presenting him with her Nobel Peace Prize medal as a symbol of gratitude for his administration's actions against the Maduro regime. Trump has questioned Machado's credibility to lead Venezuela, instead signaling willingness to work with acting President Delcy Rodríguez. Machado's visit came as the US continued to exert pressure on Venezuela, seizing a sanctioned oil tanker and holding Maduro and his wife in custody on drug trafficking charges. Machado's meeting with Trump was seen as a symbolic gesture, with the White House characterizing it as a 'frank and positive discussion' about Venezuela.
Entities: María Corina Machado, Donald Trump, Venezuela, Nobel Peace Prize, White House • Tone: neutral • Sentiment: negative • Intent: inform
16-01-2026
The article discusses the global implications of the US operation that captured Venezuelan strongman Nicolás Maduro. The author argues that the operation, led by President Trump, has had far-reaching consequences, including a shift in the balance of power in Latin America, a blow to Cuba's economy, and a strategic loss for China and Russia. The article suggests that Trump's actions have demonstrated his willingness to take risks to protect American interests and that this will have a deterrent effect on other global actors. The author also notes that the operation has created opportunities for the US to gain influence in the region and to counter the influence of its adversaries.
Entities: Nicolás Maduro, Donald Trump, Venezuela, China, Russia • Tone: analytical • Sentiment: positive • Intent: inform
16-01-2026
Venezuela's interim leader, Delcy Rodríguez, delivered a State of the Union address, walking a tightrope between anti-imperialist rhetoric and appeasing the US government. She echoed Nicolás Maduro's anti-US sentiments while also announcing plans to open Venezuela's oil fields and release political prisoners, aligning with US demands. The speech was seen as an attempt to convey stability amidst uncertainty, but some claims were disputed by reality on the ground. Rodríguez's moves were praised by the White House, but criticized by opposition leader María Corina Machado, who has accused Rodríguez of being part of Maduro's repressive administration.
Entities: Delcy Rodríguez, Venezuela, Nicolás Maduro, United States, Donald Trump • Tone: neutral • Sentiment: negative • Intent: inform
