Latin America

For the United States, access to Venezuela’s oil reserves has always been critical. But the failures of previous administrations to gain power over the Venezuelan economy, infrastructure, and resources – on behalf of U.S. corporate interests – has now been complicated even further by Chinese and Russian investments and influence in the region.

During a press conference yesterday, the leaders of Mexico and Spain acknowledged their willingness to mediate negotiations for Venezuela.

More than 250,000 people have been murdered and 35,000 have disappeared since the beginning of Mexico’s drug war.

Maduro announced yesterday that he is seeking to expand the presence of local militias in the country to 2 million by mid-April.

Latino Rebels Radio: January 29, 2019

The sanctions block all PDVSA property and operations under U.S. jurisdiction and prohibit transactions by U.S. entities.

On Monday, the United States Department of the Treasury imposed new sanctions on Venezuela’s state-oil company PDVSA, which includes Citgo Petroleum Corporation.

On Sunday, Maduro stated on an interview with CNN that he will not be calling for early elections.

The Foreign Ministry issued a statement saying Maduro’s government was suspending the expulsion to provide a 30-day window for negotiating with U.S. officials about setting up a “U.S. interests office” in Venezuela and a similar Venezuelan office in the United States.

It’s been a long day.

U.S. Secretary of State Mike Pompeo addressed the meeting ahead of Venezuelan Foreign Minister Jorge Arreaza and other council members.

There’s a history.

CARACAS, Venezuela (AP) — The latest on the political crisis in Venezuela (all times local).

Russian President Vladimir Putin spoke with Maduro on the phone to offer his support.

A half-dozen generals belonging largely to district commands and with direct control over thousands of troops joined the Venezuelan president in accusing the United States of meddling in the country’s affairs.

According to witnesses cited in a police report, the hitman did not act alone in the murder of Franco and authorities believe that at least two other BOPE officers were directly involved in the killing.

CARACAS, Venezuela (AP) — The latest on the political crisis in Venezuela for Thursday, January 24 (all times local).

The events on Wednesday in Caracas were unsurprising.

CARACAS, Venezuela (AP) — The latest on nationwide protests in Venezuela (all times local).

Lawmakers voted Nicolás Maduro’s authority illegitimate just days after his inauguration on January 10.

The Argentine-born son of Italian immigrants has long held the issue dear to his heart and has signaled that it will be a central theme during the trip.