Latest news with #Maduro
Fox News
3 hours ago
- Politics
- Fox News
US accuses Venezuelan regime of narco-terrorism over alliances with Tren de Aragua, Sinaloa Cartel
The U.S. government has named the Cartel de los Soles, a Venezuela-based criminal group led by President Nicolás Maduro, a global terrorist organization. Cartel de los Soles, or Cartel of the Suns, is being sanctioned by the U.S. for providing support to foreign terrorist organizations, including the violent Tren de Aragua and Sinaloa Cartel, according to a news release from the U.S. Department of the Treasury. "Today's action further exposes the illegitimate Maduro regime's facilitation of narco-terrorism through terrorist groups like Cartel de los Soles," Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent said in a statement. "The Treasury Department will continue to execute on President Donald Trump's pledge to put America First by cracking down on violent organizations, including Tren de Aragua, the Sinaloa Cartel and their facilitators, like Cartel de los Soles." Tren de Aragua, a Venezuelan gang, is involved in a range of criminal activities, including human smuggling and the illicit drug trade. The Sinaloa Cartel, a violent and powerful Mexican cartel, is responsible for trafficking drugs like fentanyl into the U.S., according to the Treasury Department. In an X post, the Drug Enforcement Administration wrote that it is seeking information leading to the arrests and convictions of Maduro, Minister of Interior, Justice and Peace Diosdado Cabello Rondón and Minister of Defense Vladimir Padrino López. In January, the U.S. increased an reward to $25 million for information leading to Maduro's arrest and/or conviction. The U.S. has not recognized Maduro as the Venezuelan president since 2019. In May, the U.S. advised citizens to avoid traveling to Venezuela and its borders. According to the U.S. Department of State, citizens were warned not to travel to Venezuela due to severe risks, including wrongful detention, torture in detention, terrorism, kidnapping, arbitrary enforcement of local laws, crime, civil unrest and poor health infrastructure.
The Hindu
5 hours ago
- Politics
- The Hindu
Venezuela opposition calls to resist, Maduro celebrates on election anniversary
Venezuelan opposition leader Maria Corina Machado called Monday (July 28, 2025) for "clandestine" resistance against President Nicolas Maduro on the anniversary of his disputed re-election. Electoral authorities declared Maduro winner of the July 2024 election despite allegations of fraud and without releasing a detailed breakdown of voting results. The Venezuelan opposition says their candidate Edmundo Gonzalez Urrutia is the true winner. The ex-diplomat fled into exile after the election, while Ms. Machado — who was barred from standing in the election — has gone into hiding. Speaking in a social media video, Ms. Machado accused Mr. Maduro of being "so afraid of being invaded" and overthrown, but said millions of people already in Venezuela will remove him from power. Venezuelan authorities frequently accuse Ms. Machado of leading conspiracies against Mr. Maduro. Nearly 1,000 leaders, including from Ms. Machado's closest circle, have been detained since the election. Ms. Machado called for "the clandestine organization of all structures within Venezuela" to disobey tyranny and prepare for civic action "when the time comes." Her opposition group had called for boycott of the May 25 parliamentary and gubernatorial elections, as well as mayoral elections held last weekend. Mr. Maduro's party won handily in both contests, and he gathered outside the presidential palace Miraflores to celebrate the wins on Monday. Mr. Maduro slapped back at criticism. "Enough of fascism, no more conspiracies, no more calls for foreign interventions, no more economic war, enough of fascism, enough of violence. Venezuela wants work, prosperity and to move forward on the path of unity," Mr. Maduro said.
Forbes
8 hours ago
- Politics
- Forbes
Maria Corina Machado: The Legitimate Leader For Change In Venezuela
Opposition leader Maria Corina Machado greets supporters from the back of a truck during a campaign ... More rally. Maria Corina Machado has been persecuted by those who usurped the government of Venezuela, criticized by collaborationists as adopting a scorched-earth policy against the corrupt regime, and accused of being soft and a fake by those who would prefer that she led an armed crusade. Despite the criticism from all sides, Maria Corina, as she prefers to be called, continues to push forward as a true leader of those who fight for Venezuelan freedoms. Let me begin by giving some explanations regarding her critics, starting with the current government itself. Nicolas Maduro lost the July 28, 2024, election by more than two to one margin to the candidate from Machado's party. Maduro and his acolytes are usurpers. They stole the election. Just a few days ago, U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio remarked, 'Maduro is not the president of Venezuela, nor is his regime a legitimate government. Maduro is the leader of the Cartel of the Suns, a narco-terrorist organization that has taken control of a country.' I have known Maria Corina since before she entered politics. In 2002, she was one of the founders of Sumate, a civil-society NGO. She was first elected to Congress in 2010. I was privileged to be with Ms. Machado in 2014, the day she landed in Lima, Peru, and was notified that if she returned to Caracas, she would not be able to leave her beloved Venezuela. She returned and has been fighting the regime and avoiding imprisonment ever since. "Maduro is not the president of Venezuela, nor is his regime a legitimate government" Secretary of ... More State Marco Rubio did not mince words about his views about Venezuela. In his book The Collapse of Venezuela: Scorched Earth Politics and Economic Decline, 2012-2020, Francisco Rodríguez, a professor at the University of Denver with personal and family roots in Venezuela, puts part of the blame for Venezuela's collapse on the opposition to the Chávez-Maduro regime. Rodríguez has good command of the economic data, but he implies that the Venezuelan economic and political situation would be much better if the opposition had not pushed for sanctions. He says the opposition has mismanaged the conflict and pushed a regime that might have been open to collaboration into a posture of complete obstinacy. I, however, have worked with Venezuelans for over four decades and have been a close follower of their situation. It was clear from the start that Chávez and Maduro never intended to give up power and would brook no compromise to keep it. Lastly, believe it or not, Machado has been criticized for not being tough enough on Chávez and Maduro. Eduardo Bittar, a Venezuelan activist based in Brazil, regards himself as the authentic opposition and includes Machado as part of a 'fictional' opposition aligned with Chavismo. Machado's allies, though, pay little attention to Bittar. On social media, Machado has 6.2 million followers on X and 8.6 million on Instagram. Bittar, on the other hand, has 117K on X, and 48K on Instagram. Why bother? Because despite the clear messages from Secretary Rubio and other members of Trump administration in support of Machado, Bittar has managed to earn the confidence of important Trump allies such as the Bolsonaro family and leading members of CPAC. Eduardo Bittar is particularly critical of María Corina Machado and many in the mainstream opposition, whom he labels 'oppofiction.' Some of Bittar's accusations, such as that Machado voted against legalizing weapons in the possession of the population (allegedly, 13 million unregistered arms were in the hands of the militias of the regime) and that she has a good relationship with members of the Socialist International, which include social democrats, are true. Bittar's assessment that the Maduro regime will not leave through a democratic process is also credible. But going from there to delegitimize Machado is helping divide the much-needed internal and external support needed for a successful operation against the corrupt regime. Yesterday, in a video aimed at refreshing memories about the electoral theft of July 28, 2024, Machado was very direct. As she included the military and the police, it sounded like a call to arms. To her followers, she asked them to organize, exercise strategic pressure, and denounce with perseverance, focus, and discipline. Core pillars of Machado's economic proposal Last month Machado's team unveiled a 15-year roadmap projecting the potential wealth creation that could be achieved if the current regime falls. The estimate is that under a democratic government, with a division of power and the rule of law, the liberation of Venezuela could lead to up to $1.7 trillion in global wealth creation. For this to happen, though, Venezuelans will need a new framework to rebuild if and when Venezuela is freed from the current regime. For this, Machado's proposal has its priorities in order. It stresses the importance of institutional reform and the rule of law, guaranteeing property rights, enforcement of contracts, and regulatory stability. Machado commits to market liberalization and the privatization of the oil industry and other state enterprises. She proposes re-engagement with the IMF, the World Bank, and the Interamerican Development Bank. This has its risks, but it is similar to what Javier Milei has been doing in Argentina. Given the decades of neglect, waste, and corruption, and given Venezuela's abundant natural resources, the country could see a significant jump in GDP if it were to adopt modern technologies to tap the world's largest oil reserves, its major gas reserves, minerals, farmland, coastline, and strategic near-shoring location. Machado proposes diversification into 12 strategic sectors, including energy, mining, agriculture, tourism, tech, healthcare, and education infrastructure. The goals of the plan are very realistic. For example, it proposes boosting crude production from under 1 million barrels a day to about 4–4.7 million barrels a day over 15 years, generating roughly $420 billion in oil sector revenues. The goal of raising GDP from around $100 billion today to $350 billion is also achievable, especially if any new government earns credibility in promoting fiscal and monetary discipline. Venezuela's primary think tank promoting economic freedom, CEDICE Libertad, has mapped the Venezuelan economy, and its studies confirm the proposal's feasibility. Machado frames the plan as transforming Venezuela from the 'criminal hub of the Americas' into an 'energy and economic hub.' For the U.S., though, a restored Venezuela has more than simply economic importance. Joseph Humire – founder of the Center for a Secure Free Society and current deputy director at Trump's Pentagon – recently spoke to this effect at a gathering of policy leaders. Even if in fifteen years Venezuela grows to the potential expected by the proposal, its GDP would still be much lower than the average US state. For Humire, a staunch ally of Venezuelan freedom fighters, Venezuela is much more relevant, almost essential, for US long-term national security. Moving to a government led by Maria Corina Machado would do much for peace in the Americas and the protection of freedoms in the United States.
The Hindu
a day ago
- Politics
- The Hindu
Maduro's party sweeps Venezuela mayoral vote as opposition boycotts
Venezuela's ruling party won the majority of mayoral seats on Sunday (July 27, 2025) in elections boycotted by the main opposition, coinciding with the anniversary of President Nicolas Maduro's re-election last year. The ruling United Socialist Party of Venezuela (PSUV) won 285 of 335 mayoralties, according to Maduro's own projections, which he celebrated with supporters early Monday in Caracas's Bolivar Square. "Victory, popular victory!" Maduro shouted. "Democracy and peace, the unity of the people, have triumphed." The country's electoral authority, accused of loyalty to Maduro, put turnout at 44 percent. That represents just over six million voters, although polling stations in several cities showed low turnout throughout the day. In one year, Maduro has won the presidency, absolute control of parliament, 23 of 24 governorships and now municipal power. Opposition leader Maria Corina Machado, whose candidate lost to Maduro in the presidential election last year, said on X: "What happened between July 28, 2024, and today?" "That day, 70 percent of the country voted for EDMUNDO GONZALEZ, and today, 90 percent said NO to MADURO," referring to what she said was the abstention rate. A dissident wing of Machado's movement participated in the elections and, according to Maduro, won 50 mayoralties. "The new opposition," the president declared, while the opposition leader branded them Maduro collaborators. Maduro plans to lead a demonstration Monday to celebrate the anniversary of his victory, which the United States and a dozen other countries did not recognise. "Maduro is NOT the President of Venezuela and his regime is NOT the legitimate government," US Secretary of State Marco Rubio said on X Sunday, calling the president the leader of a "narco-terror" organisation. This month, Washington and Caracas negotiated a prisoner swap that saw the release of 10 Americans and US residents imprisoned in Venezuela for 252 Venezuelan migrants detained in a notorious prison in El Salvador.
France 24
2 days ago
- Politics
- France 24
Maduro's party sweeps Venezuela mayoral vote as opposition boycotts
The ruling United Socialist Party of Venezuela (PSUV) won 285 of 335 mayoralties, according to Maduro's own projections, which he celebrated with supporters early Monday in Caracas's Bolivar Square. "Victory, popular victory!" Maduro shouted. "Democracy and peace, the unity of the people, have triumphed." The country's electoral authority, accused of loyalty to Maduro, put turnout at 44 percent. That represents just over six million voters, although polling stations in several cities showed low turnout throughout the day. In one year, Maduro has won the presidency, absolute control of parliament, 23 of 24 governorships and now municipal power. Opposition leader Maria Corina Machado, whose candidate lost to Maduro in the presidential election last year, said on X: "What happened between July 28, 2024, and today?" "That day, 70 percent of the country voted for EDMUNDO GONZALEZ, and today, 90 percent said NO to MADURO," referring to what she said was the abstention rate. A dissident wing of Machado's movement participated in the elections and, according to Maduro, won 50 mayoralties. "The new opposition," the president declared, while the opposition leader branded them Maduro collaborators. Maduro plans to lead a demonstration Monday to celebrate the anniversary of his victory, which the United States and a dozen other countries did not recognise. "Maduro is NOT the President of Venezuela and his regime is NOT the legitimate government," US Secretary of State Marco Rubio said on X Sunday, calling the president the leader of a "narco-terror" organisation. This month, Washington and Caracas negotiated a prisoner swap that saw the release of 10 Americans and US residents imprisoned in Venezuela for 252 Venezuelan migrants detained in a notorious prison in El Salvador.
