The USA captures Venezuela and Arrests its President.

[Dalvinder Singh Grewal]

Venezuela-US conflict: US forces captured Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro and his wife after carrying out major strikes in Caracas in the wee hours of Saturday in a fresh escalation between the two countries. Trump declares: The US will govern Venezuela until a proper transition. ​

Following a US military strike in Venezuela, President Maduro condemned the action as an ‘imperialist attack.’ At least seven explosions prompted people to rush into the streets. The attack appeared to last less than 30 minutes.​

Foreign affairs expert Waiel Awwad on Sunday strongly criticised the United States over deposed Venezuelan dictator Nicolas Maduro, saying the episode once again showed that international law and the UN Charter no longer hold meaning.

"It is once again proved that there is no international law, UN Charter, and the United States is an outlaw state. They can do whatever they want," Awwad told ANI.

He said the US has a long history of using force to bring regime change in countries rich in resources.

"This policy has been followed by their previous presidents, leading to regime change by force. They did it in Afghanistan, Iraq, Syria, Libya, you name it and now in Venezuela, which is rich in oil. What world are we living in, prevailing a jungle law?" he said.

India has voiced "deep concern" over the US capturing Venezuela's President Nicolas Maduro and his wife in a military operation, and said it is closely monitoring the unfolding situation in the oil-rich South American country.

In its first reaction to the unprecedented American action in Venezuela's capital, Caracas, early on Saturday, New Delhi also called for a peaceful resolution of the situation through dialogue to ensure stability in the region and reaffirmed its support for the well-being of the people of that country.

The United States brought Maduro and his wife, Lady Cilia Flores, to New York to face drug trafficking-related charges. Venezuela, denouncing the US action, has announced a state of national emergency.

President Donald Trump has said that the United States would run Venezuela until "we can do a safe, proper and judicious transition , and American companies will help tap the vast oil reserves.


January 03, 2026 6:20 IST

Trump calls the military​

Donald Trump on Saturday announced that "US forces carried out a major operation against Venezuelan leader Nicolas Maduro, who has been captured along with his wife and flown out of the country. "The United States of America has successfully carried out a large-scale strike against Venezuela and its leader, President Nicolas Maduro, who has been, along with his wife, captured and flown out of the country. This operation was done in conjunction with U.S. law enforcement. There will be a news conference today at 11 am at Mar-a-Lago. Thank you for your attention to this matter,” Trump said in a post on Truth Social.
This comes after at least 7 explosions, and the sound of low-flying aircraft was reported around 2 am local time on Saturday in Venezuela’s capital, Caracas. The government had then accused the United States of launching military attacks on civilian and military installations across multiple states.
Smoke was seen rising from the hangar of a military base in Caracas, while another military facility in the capital was left without power. Residents in several neighborhoods rushed into the streets, with people visible from different parts of the city. The Venezuelan government said the attacks targeted Caracas as well as the states of Miranda, Aragua, and La Guaira. President Nicolás Maduro declared a state of emergency in response, according to a statement from the communications ministry​

Trump declared US will 'run' Venezuela until safe transition of power​

US President Donald Trump announced on Saturday that the US will effectively govern Venezuela following a military operation that led to the capture of Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro and his wife, Cilia Flores. “We’re going to run the country until such time as we can do a safe, proper, and judicious transition,” Trump said during the press conference. “We can’t take a chance that somebody else takes over Venezuela that doesn’t have the good of the Venezuelan people in mind,” he warned.​

US Secretary of State Rubio labeled Maduro a 'fugitive of American justice.'​

US Secretary of State Marco Rubio strongly criticized Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro, calling him not the legitimate leader of Venezuela. “It’s not just us saying it,” Rubio said, noting that both the first Trump administration and the Biden administration have taken the same position. He also pointed out that the European Union and multiple countries worldwide do not recognize Maduro as president. Rubio described Maduro as a “fugitive of American justice” with a $50 million reward on his head, quipping, “I guess we saved ourselves $50 million,” to which Trump added, “We should make sure… don’t let anybody claim it.” The Secretary of State said Maduro had “multiple opportunities” to avoid confrontation but instead chose to “act like a wild man” and “play around.” He accused Maduro of inviting Iran into Venezuela and “flooding the US with gang members,” adding that the Venezuelan leader underestimated the United States.

Trump warned Venezuelan leaders, declaring, 'people are free again.'​

Donald Trump warned that all political and military figures in Venezuela should take note that what happened to Nicolás Maduro could happen to them as well. “The Venezuelan people are free again,” he said, adding that America is now a “safer” and “prouder nation.” Trump then handed over to US Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth, who described the operation as “a massive joint military and law enforcement raid, flawlessly executed.” Hegseth said Maduro “had his chance, just like Iran had their chance,” but added that the Venezuelan leader “messed around,” implying that his inaction led to his capture.​

Trump promises new US-Venezuela partnership, calls Maduro an 'illegitimate dictator.'​

Donald Trump said a future “partnership” between the United States and Venezuela would make the Venezuelan people “rich, independent, and safe,” claiming that those living in the US would be “extremely happy” with the developments. “They’re not going to suffer any more,” he told a news conference. Trump strongly criticized Nicolás Maduro, describing him as an “illegitimate dictator” and accusing him of allowing “colossal amounts of deadly illicit drugs” to enter the United States. He also alleged that Maduro oversaw the Cartel de los Soles, a charge the Venezuelan leader has repeatedly and firmly denied in the past. Trump further said that Maduro and his wife were currently on a ship heading to New York, adding that a decision would be taken soon on whether they would be taken to New York or Miami.​

Trump hailed Venezuela strike as a display of US military might.​

​

The strike occurred amid escalating pressure from the Trump administration on Maduro, who faces narco-terrorism charges in the United States. For months, Trump had warned that he might soon authorize strikes on Venezuelan targets after repeated attacks on boats alleged to be transporting drugs. Since early September, the US military has been targeting vessels in the Caribbean Sea and the eastern Pacific Ocean. By Friday, the Trump administration stated that 35 strikes had occurred, resulting in at least 115 deaths. These actions followed a significant buildup of US forces near South America, including the November arrival of the country’s most advanced aircraft carrier, which brought thousands of additional troops to what was already the largest American military presence in the region in generations. Trump has defended the boat strikes as a necessary measure to curb the flow of drugs into the US, describing the situation as an “armed conflict” with drug cartels.​

​

Maduro condemned the US military actions, calling them a thinly disguised attempt to remove him from power. Maduro’s government quickly accused the United States of targeting both civilian and military sites. Gunfire was also reported in multiple areas, including Higuerote and La Guaira, towns near the capital, a report by Bloomberg noted. The incidents began around 2 am local time, when residents first heard aircraft and explosions. Armed individuals and uniformed members of a civilian militia took to the streets in a Caracas neighborhood long regarded as a stronghold of the ruling party, as per the Associated Press. However, in other parts of the city, streets remained largely empty hours after the attack. Some areas continued to experience power outages, though traffic flowed normally in others. In a prerecorded interview aired Thursday, Maduro claimed that the US seeks to force a change in Venezuela’s government and gain control of its vast oil reserves through its pressure campaign. Venezuela represents less than 1% of global oil consumption, but its Merey 16 grade feeds refineries with coking capacity that can't easily switch to light sweet barrels.​

​

The Venezuelan authorities described the event as an “imperialist attack” and called on citizens to take to the streets, according to AP.​

Venezuela’s government reacted to the attack by urging action. “People to the streets!” it stated, adding, "The Bolivarian Government calls on all social and political forces in the country to activate mobilization plans and repudiate this imperialist attack.” Maduro had “ordered all national defense plans to be implemented” and proclaimed “a state of external disturbance,” according to the statement. This state of emergency reportedly grants him the authority to suspend certain rights and broaden the role of the armed forces.​

Donald Trump described the military operation in Venezuela in dramatic terms, calling it a display of “overwhelming military power” and a “spectacular assault.” He said the action ranked among “the most stunning, effective, and powerful displays of American military might and competence in American history.” Backing his claims, Trump said the operation was carried out without any loss of American military personnel or destruction of US equipment. According to him, the mission achieved its core objective with the capture of Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro and his wife.​

During the address, Trump says, "Thankful to the military for their breathtaking speed, power, precision, and competence. These highly trained warriors were operating in collaboration with US law enforcement. Venezuelan forces were waiting for us, he said, with "many ships out." Despite being in a "ready position," Trump said Venezuelan forces were "completely overwhelmed and very quickly incapacitated."​

Maduro and wife now face American justice: Trump​

Addressing the media, Trump said, "Maduro and his wife now face American justice; they have been indicted in the Southern District of New York for their campaign of deadly narco-terrorism against the US and its citizens."​

Trump said 'larger second wave' of attacks was planned if needed​

Donald Trump said he was prepared to launch a much larger second wave of military action if the situation had demanded it. However, he added that such escalation may no longer be necessary, suggesting that the objectives of the operation may have already been achieved.​

Trump hailed 'extraordinary' US military operation in Venezuela​

US President Donald Trump said an “extraordinary” military operation was carried out overnight in Venezuela’s capital at his direction. He stated that the action involved the use of what he described as “overwhelming” American military force deployed across air, land, and sea.​

This operation raises profound questions about international law and U.S. unilateralism. Critics point to potential violations of the UN Charter's prohibition on force, echoing debates over the 2003 Iraq invasion. Repercussions could include strained U.S.-Latin America ties, accelerated migration from Venezuela, and tests of alliances for Russia and China. These broader geopolitical shifts may reshape global norms for years, overshadowing short-term market moves. Yet the energy dimensions remain vital, as disrupted flows expose dependencies in an already volatile crude landscape.​

Foreign affairs expert Waiel Awwad on Sunday strongly criticised the United States over deposed Venezuelan dictator Nicolas Maduro, saying the episode once again showed that international law and the UN Charter no longer hold meaning.

"It is once again proved that there is no international law, UN Charter, and the United States is an outlaw state. They can do whatever they want," Awwad told ANI.

He said the US has a long history of using force to bring regime change in countries rich in resources.

"This policy has been followed by their previous presidents, leading to regime change by force. They did it in Afghanistan, Iraq, Syria, Libya, you name it and now in Venezuela, which is rich in oil. What world are we living in, prevailing a jungle law?" he said.

India has voiced "deep concern" over the US capturing Venezuela's President Nicolas Maduro and his wife in a military operation, and said it is closely monitoring the unfolding situation in the oil-rich South American country.

In its first reaction to the unprecedented American action in Venezuela's capital, Caracas, early on Saturday, New Delhi also called for a peaceful resolution of the situation through dialogue to ensure stability in the region and reaffirmed its support for the well-being of the people of that country.

The United States brought Maduro and his wife, Lady Cilia Flores, to New York to face drug trafficking-related charges. Venezuela, denouncing the US action, has announced a state of national emergency.

President Donald Trump has said that the United States would run Venezuela until "we can do a safe, proper and judicious transition , and American companies will help tap the vast oil reserves.
Venezuela’s proven oil reserves stood at approximately 303 billion barrels as of year-end 2024, securing its place as the global leader.By comparison, Saudi Arabia holds the second-largest proven reserves at roughly 267 billion barrels, followed by Iran (209 billion), Canada (163 billion), and Iraq (145 billion).

 

[Dalvinder Singh Grewal]

 

[Dalvinder Singh Grewal]

US President Donald Trump and Colombian President Gustavo Petro held their first phone conversation following a recent war of words, at a time of growing strain between the United States and several Latin American countries.

The exchange took place days after Trump accused the Colombian leader of being "sick" and involved in cocaine trafficking. Trump said the two leaders discussed counter-narcotics policy and other areas of disagreement and agreed to hold an in-person meeting in the future. He confirmed the call in a post on his social media platform, Truth Social.

"It was a great honor to speak with the President of Colombia, Gustavo Petro, who called to explain the situation of drugs and other disagreements that we have had," Trump wrote on Wednesday.

"I appreciated his call and tone and look forward to meeting him in the near future," he added. Separately, the Colombian government also confirmed that Petro held a 35-minute phone conversation with Trump, describing it as "a good and positive call," according to a report by The Hill.

The outreach followed heightened tensions after recent US strikes on Venezuela, after which Trump issued warnings to several countries in the region about possible US intervention. Colombia was among those mentioned, with Trump on Sunday referring to Petro as a "sick man who likes making cocaine and selling it to the United States, and he's not going to be doing it very long," The Hill reported.

The rhetoric extended further when Trump was asked by NewsNation's Libbey Dean whether he intended to launch a military operation against Colombia, to which he responded, "It sounds good to me."

Trump has previously made threats and remarks targeting the Colombian president. Last month, he warned that Petro "better watch his a--."

Against this backdrop, Petro called on Colombians to defend "national sovereignty" and warned against any US intervention following Saturday's strikes. "If you bomb peasants, thousands of guerrillas will return to the mountains," Petro said, according to The City Paper Bogota. "And if you arrest the president whom a good part of my people want and respect, you will unleash the popular jaguar." -- ANI​

 

[Dalvinder Singh Grewal]

The United States on Wednesday stated that it has seized the Russian-flagged oil tanker, M/V Bella 1, in the North Atlantic Sea after weeks of pursuit by the US Coast Guard warship after it evaded a US blockade of sanctioned oil tankers near Venezuela for over a fortnight.

IMAGE: The US seizes a Russian-flagged oil tanker linked to Venezuela after a weeks-long chase. Photograph: X@US_EUCOM/ANI Photo

According to a post on X by the US European Command, the tanker violated US sanctions and was tracked by the US Coast Guard cutter Munro prior to the operation.
The command noted that the vessel was seized under a warrant issued by a US federal court.
"The Justice Dept. & DHS, in coordination with the Dept. of War, today announced the seizure of the M/V Bella 1 for violations of US sanctions. The vessel was seized in the North Atlantic pursuant to a warrant issued by a US federal court after being tracked by USCGC Munro," the post read.

"This seizure supports the President's proclamation targeting sanctioned vessels that threaten the security and stability of the Western Hemisphere," the post further read.

The operation was conducted by DHS components with support from the Department of War, underscoring a "whole-of-government approach" to protecting US interests and national security.
Earlier, RT News shared visuals of a boarding attempt by military personnel on the vessel.
Originally named Bella 1, the tanker was sanctioned in 2024 and renamed Marinera.​

The oil tanker recently became the focus of a face-off between the US and Russia, with Russia sending naval assets, including a submarine, to bring it back, according to a Wall Street Journal report.

As per the WSJ report, Bella 1 has been trying to evade the US blockade of sanctioned oil tankers near Venezuela for over a fortnight.

The vessel failed to dock in Venezuela and load with oil. Although the ship is empty, the US Coast Guard pursued it into the Atlantic in a bid to crack down on a fleet of tankers that ferry illicit oil around the world, including black-market oil sold by Russia, as reported by the Wall Street Journal.

In December, the vessel's crew engaged in a standoff with the US law enforcement agents who attempted to board the vessel and then steamed into the Atlantic.

Russia has been concerned about US seizures of tankers that ferry its oil worldwide.

On Tuesday, the Russian Foreign Ministry said it was monitoring "with concern" the situation surrounding the tanker, according to state news agency RIA.

Meanwhile, the US military's Southern Command said in a post on X on Tuesday that it was ready to "stand against sanctioned vessels in the region."

The US Coast Guard trailed the ship into the Eastern Atlantic, where it was sailing about 300 miles south of Iceland toward the North Sea, according to AIS positioning, WSJ reported.
Following the seizure of the Russian-flagged oil tanker by US military forces earlier on Wednesday, Moscow demanded that Washington ensure the humane and dignified treatment of Russian nationals aboard the seized tanker and called for their prompt return to their homeland, TASS reported.

According to a statement cited by TASS, the Russian foreign ministry said it is closely monitoring reports that the US military has boarded the tanker Mariner, originally Bella 1, on the high seas, noting that Russian citizens are among the crew.​

"Considering the incoming information regarding the presence of Russian citizens among the crew, we demand that the American side ensure humane and dignified treatment of them and strictly respect their rights and interests," the foreign ministry said, as quoted by TASS.

Moscow also urged Washington not to impede the prompt return of Russian nationals from the tanker to Russia, stressing that their safety and legal rights must be fully upheld.

The remarks come in the backdrop of the United States' seizure of the tanker for alleged sanctions violations, an action that Russia has criticized as a breach of international law and maritime norms.

Soon after the seizure of the oil tanker, Moscow issued a strong condemnation, asserting that no country has the right to use force against vessels lawfully registered under another state's jurisdiction, particularly on the high seas.
In a Telegram statement, Russia's Ministry of Transport said the tanker Marinera received a temporary permit to fly the Russian Federation flag on December 24, 2025, in accordance with Russian and international law.

Citing the 1982 United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS), the Russian ministry emphasized that freedom of navigation applies in international waters and that no state is authorised to employ force against vessels duly registered in the jurisdiction of another country.

"In accordance with the 1982 UN Convention on the Law of the Sea, freedom of navigation applies in high seas waters, and no state has the right to use force against vessels duly registered in the jurisdictions of other states," the Ministry of Transport stated in its statement.

The strong condemnation by the Russian Federation came after the US European Command stated that it had seized the Russian-flagged oil tanker, M/V Bella 1, in the North Atlantic Ocean after weeks of pursuit by the US Coast Guard warship after it evaded a US blockade of sanctioned oil tankers near Venezuela for over a fortnight.

Originally named Bella 1, the tanker was sanctioned in 2024 and renamed Marinera.

As per the WSJ report, Bella 1 was trying to evade the US blockade of sanctioned oil tankers near Venezuela for over a fortnight.

 

[Dalvinder Singh Grewal]

The US attack on Venezuela to seize the country's President Nicolas Maduro killed at least 100 people, according to the country's interior minister.

"So far, and I say so far, there are 100 dead, 100. And a similar number of injured," Diosdado Cabello said late on Wednesday. Read more here.

White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt on Wednesday (local time) stated that Washington is working closely with interim authorities in Venezuela, who have agreed to release millions of barrels of sanctioned crude to the US, underscoring Washington's leverage over the South American nation's oil supplies following the US' "large-scale strike" in Caracas.

During a White House press briefing, Leavitt said that the Trump Administration is in "close correspondence" with Venezuela's interim leaders and stressed that their decisions continue to be shaped by American engagement and influence.

"The Trump Administration is in close correspondence with the interim authorities in Venezuela. We obviously have maximum leverage over the interim authorities in Venezuela right now... Their decisions are going to continue to be dictated by the United States," Leavitt said.

 

[Dalvinder Singh Grewal]

Three Indians are among the crew on board the Russian oil tanker seized by the United States, local media reported, even as Moscow on Thursday asked Washington to comply with international laws on freedom of maritime navigation while strongly rejecting its 'neo-colonist' tendencies.
The Russian Foreign Ministry also said information about the Marinera tanker, previously known as Bella 1, that was seized on Wednesday by the US Coast Guard in the North Atlantic, was conveyed to America repeatedly.

"The Marinera crew consists of 17 Ukrainian citizens, six Georgian citizens, three Indian citizens, and two Russian citizens," Russia Today said, quoting sources.
Demanding humane and dignified treatment of its crew, the statementsaid, "Wee reiterate our demand that the US ensure humane and dignified treatment of the Russian citizens comprising the tanker's crew, strictly observe their rights and interests, and make no obstacles to their prompt return to their homeland."

It also expressed serious concerns about the use of military force by the US against the oil tanker, full information about which was conveyed to it.

“The Marinera, which on December 24 received temporary permission to sail under the Russian flag in accordance with the international law and Russian legislation, was peacefully transiting international waters in the North Atlantic, heading for one of Russia's ports,” the foreign ministry said.

The US government had been repeatedly provided with reliable information, including from the Russian Foreign Ministry, about the ship's Russian origin and its civilian status, it asserted.

“Russia did not give consent to these actions. On the contrary, it lodged an official protest with the US government regarding the pursuit of the Marinera by a US Coast Guard vessel over the past several weeks, insisting on the immediate cessation of these activities and the withdrawal of the unlawful demands made on the Russian ship's captain,” the ministry said.

Under these circumstances, US military personnel boarding a civilian vessel on the high seas and effectively seizing it, as well as capturing its crew, “can only be viewed as a gross violation of the basic principles and norms of international maritime law and freedom of navigation,” the Russian Foreign Ministry said.

 

[Dalvinder Singh Grewal]

The Russian Foreign Ministry urged the United States to return to the established norms and principles of international maritime law and immediately cease its "unlawful actions" against the Marinera and other vessels engaged in lawful activities on the high seas.

In an official statement on Thursday, the Russian Ministry of Foreign Affairs expressed grave concern over what they called illegal use of force by the United States Armed Forces against the oil tanker Marinera on January 7.

The statement mentioned, "Alongside the US administration's disregard for the accepted norms of international maritime navigation, Washington's readiness to provoke acute international crises, including in Russian-American relations, which are already severely strained, is both regrettable and alarming. The Marinera incident can only lead to a further escalation of military-political tensions in the Euro-Atlantic region and a dangerous lowering of the threshold for using force against civilian shipping. Encouraged by Washington's irresponsible example, other actors may feel emboldened to take similar actions. Authorities in the United Kingdom, a country with a long history of maritime predation, are already displaying such intent, having openly acknowledged their involvement in the US military operation in North Atlantic waters."

The Russian MFA said that the Marinera was temporarily authorised to fly the Russian flag in December, in accordance with international and Russian law, and was transiting peacefully through international waters in the North Atlantic area.

"The Marinera, which was temporarily authorised to fly the Russian flag on December 24 in accordance with international and Russian law, was transiting peacefully through international waters of the North Atlantic en route to a Russian port. US authorities, including through official communications with the Russian Ministry of Foreign Affairs, were repeatedly provided with reliable information confirming the vessel's Russian registration and its civilian, non-military status. There could have been no doubt regarding this fact, nor any basis for alleging that the tanker was sailing "without a flag" or "under a false flag."

International maritime law explicitly grants the flag state exclusive jurisdiction over its vessels on the high seas. Stopping and inspecting a vessel in international waters is permitted only under narrowly defined circumstances, such as suspected piracy or slave trading - neither of which apply to the Marinera. In all other cases, such actions require the consent of the flag state, which in this instance is Russia," the statement read.

The statement noted that not only did Russia refuse to provide such consent, it formally protested to US authorities in recent weeks over the continued pursuit of the Marinera by a US Coast Guard vessel, demanding an immediate end to the pursuit and the withdrawal of unlawful demands made to the Russian ship's captain. -- ANI

 

[Dalvinder Singh Grewal]

'Trump had done a deal with the current regime minus Maduro. The current regime is giving Trump entry into Venezuelan oil. They are obeying him and doing whatever he says.'

'They are happy because they have saved their heads by sacrificing only two, Maduro and his wife. Thousands of Venezuelan military leaders would have been jailed or killed in American action had Maduro stayed in power.'

IMAGE: US President Donald John Trump, Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth, CIA Director John Ratcliffe and Secretary of State Marco Rubio watch the US military operation in Venezuela from Trump's Mar-a-Lago resort in Palm Beach, Florida, January 3, 2026. Photograph: Kind courtesy Donald Trump on Truth Social

For R. Viswanathan, India's former ambassador to Venezuela (2000-2003) and a longtime observer of Latin American politics, what has unfolded in Caracas is neither shocking nor unprecedented.

He describes the fall of President Nicolás Maduro as the latest chapter in a long history of US intervention in South America, driven less by democracy or human rights than by raw power and control over resources.

In his view, Venezuela's vast oil reserves—the largest in the world—made the country an inevitable target, regardless of its limited military capacity or internal weaknesses.

Ambassador Viswanathan dismisses claims that Venezuela posed any strategic or military threat to the United States or that Russian involvement triggered Washington's actions.

Russia, he argues, had only a marginal presence, while China's role was largely financial, extending credit to be repaid in oil rather than attempting to challenge US dominance in the region.

The real issue, he says, was not geopolitics but oil—and America's determination to regain direct access to it after years of sanctions and isolation.

In this interview with Syed Firdaus Ashraf/Rediff, Ambassador Viswanathan says Maduro's removal was not the result of a popular uprising but an internal power realignment within Venezuela's ruling structure.

He argues that real authority never rested with Maduro, whom he portrays as a figurehead, but with senior military and political leaders who ultimately chose to sacrifice him to secure their own survival.

By allowing Washington a decisive victory and opening the oil sector to US companies, these power brokers, he contends, struck a deal that preserved the regime while abandoning its president.

US President James Monroe in 1832 stated that the US does not want other powers to come to South America. Is this what we are seeing today in Venezuela?

Of course, the strong do what they can, and the weak must suffer what they have to. This is the Monroe Doctrine.

Americans have been doing this for the last 70 or 80 years. They have been invading, occupying, supporting military dictatorships, and destabilizing democracies, and Venezuela is the latest episode. This is like a Netflix serial. The story and plot are the same; only the country changes.

Was the threat of Russia and China taking away Venezuelan oil without paying in dollars a real threat to the American dollar? Is that why Trump made this move?

No, that is not a big deal because Russia was not a big factor in Venezuela, as they were a minor supplier of equipment. They had no big stakes or deals with Venezuela.

But China, yes. They did not invest as much in Venezuela as they did in Brazil or Chile, but they gave 50 billion dollars in credit to Venezuela over many years. The repayment was in oil from Venezuela against this credit. They did not invest much in Venezuela.

 

[Dalvinder Singh Grewal]

US President Donald Trump announced on Friday that he has cancelled a previously expected second wave of military attacks on Venezuela, following his military action in Caracas which led to the capture of the South American country's leader Nicolas Maduro and his wife, citing improved cooperation from Caracas and the release of a large number of political prisoners as part of efforts to 'seek peace'.

IMAGE: US President Donald Trump speaks to reporters aboard Air Force One, en route from Florida to Joint Base Andrews, Maryland, on January 4, 2026. Photograph: Jonathan Ernst/Reuters
In a post on Truth Social, the US President said that the decision to call off further strikes comes as relations between Washington and Caracas enter a phase of cooperation, particularly on rebuilding and modernising Venezuela's oil and gas infrastructure, which Trump had previously stated following the first wave of attack on Saturday.
He described the Venezuelan prisoner releases as a 'very important and smart gesture'.
However, Trump noted that the US military units in the region will remain on alert even though the new round of offensive operations is no longer expected.

"Venezuela is releasing large numbers of political prisoners as a sign of 'Seeking Peace'. This is a very important and smart gesture. The U.S.A. and Venezuela are working well together, especially as it pertains to rebuilding, in a much bigger, better, and more modern form, their oil and gas infrastructure. Because of this cooperation, I have cancelled the previously expected second Wave of Attacks, which looks like it will not be needed, however, all ships will stay in place for safety and security purposes," his post read.

Trump, in his post, further highlighted plans for significant investment in Venezuela's energy sector, saying that at least $100 billion will be invested by major oil companies, and noting his intention to meet with top executives at the White House to discuss these plans.

"At least 100 Billion Dollars will be invested by BIG OIL, all of whom I will be meeting with today at The White House," his post added.

The move comes almost a week after the US launched a 'large-scale strike' in the Venezuelan capital of Caracas on Saturday and captured Nicolas Maduro and his wife, Cilia Flores.

Maduro and Flores were flown out of the country in a joint operation involving intelligence agencies and US law enforcement.

They were indicted on charges of alleged 'drug trafficking and narco-terrorism conspiracies' in the Southern District of New York and are currently facing trial.
President Trump called the release of several political prisoners a "very important and smart gesture," and that a "previously expected second Wave of Attacks" has been canceled because of this decision.

Venezuela is releasing large numbers of political prisoners as a sign of "Seeking Peace," Trump said on Truth Social Friday morning.

Two prominent Venezuelan opposition politicians, six Spanish nationals, and two Colombian nationals will be released by Venezuelan authorities Thursday, the Spanish president’s office and the Venezuelan Communication Ministry confirmed to ABC News on Thursday.

"This is a very important and smart gesture. The U.S.A. and Venezuela are working well together, especially as it pertains to rebuilding, in a much bigger, better, and more modern form, their oil and gas infrastructure,” Trump wrote.

“Because of this cooperation, I have cancelled the previously expected second Wave of Attacks, which looks like it will not be needed, however, all ships will stay in place for safety and security purposes,” he continued.

Echoing the comments he made to Fox News' Sean Hannity, Trump said that "at least 100 billion dollars will be invested by big oil." His remarks come as he prepares to meet with oil executives at the White House Friday afternoon.

-ABC News' Justin Gomez

 

[Dalvinder Singh Grewal]

Was there any agreement between the Chinese and US presidents on Taiwan for China and Venezuela, Columbia, and Greenland for the US?​

Trump’s G2 Moment: Dawn of a New World Order?​

The emergence of a robust G-2 dialogue may signal a transition from a unipolar world to a bipolar one.

U.S. President Donald J. Trump and Chinese President Xi Jinping meet at Busan, South Korea, Oct. 30, 2025. Credit: Official White House Photo by Daniel Torok

U.S. President Donald Trump has hailed his meeting with Xi Jinping in Busan, South Korea, as a “G-2” summit. After a nearly two-hour conversation with the Chinese leader, Trump emerged declaring it “amazing,” rating the meeting “12 out of 10.” The Chinese readout, though less dramatic, confirmed most of Trump’s claims.

It appears that the United States and China are now in a comfortable place—each acknowledging the strengths of the other while finding ways to cooperate. The meeting between Secretary of Defence Pete Hegseth and Chinese Defense Minister Dong Jun hours later in Kuala Lumpur emphasized this growing bonhomie between the two nations.

By reducing tariffs on China by 10 percent, Trump has brought the average tariff rate on Chinese goods below that of India and Brazil, which now stand as the highest at 50 percent. He cut China’s average tariffs from 57 percent to 47 percent, acknowledging Beijing’s efforts to curb exports of fentanyl precursors that have taken a heavy toll on American lives. Trump also indicated broad agreement between Washington and Beijing on several issues, including China’s commitments to change export control policies and purchase more U.S. soybeans and agricultural products. The United States, in turn, has agreed not only to reduce tariffs but also to lift certain barriers preventing China’s access to advanced American semiconductors. There also appears to be a willingness to cooperate on ending the war in Ukraine.
Mutual state visits are planned in 2026. Yet, despite Trump’s presentation of the meeting as a landmark success between two major powers who respect and intend to work with each other, the deals are not final. Both sides have effectively postponed implementation of their most hostile policies by 12 months. China has suspended its control mechanisms on rare earth exports for a year, and the U.S. has done the same for controls under section 301. In effect, the two powers have given themselves a year to settle their trade differences.

The Trump-Xi meeting in Busan is laden with structural consequences.

It means that the very institutions designed to govern global trade are now rendered obsolete. Trump’s tariff diplomacy has made multilateral bodies like the World Trade Organization increasingly irrelevant. Now, even forums such as the G-20 and G-7 risk losing salience. Multilateralism gives way to shared global governance by the G-2.
By casting this meeting with Xi as a G2 Summit, Trump has effectively redefined the global order. If the two leaders can transcend mutual distrust and make this work, then we are truly looking at an entirely new world order.

For years, India’s External Affairs Minister Dr. S. Jaishankar, French President Emmanuel Macron, and occasionally even Chinese and Russian leaders have asserted that we live in a multipolar world—a system in which multiple global powers jockey through flexible alliances to prevent the rise of any single hegemon. But Trump’s G-2 framing upends that premise entirely. It elevates China to the level of a peer competitor and demotes the rest of the powers aspiring for a bigger role in a multipolar world.
The economic terms Trump is now imposing on U.S. allies further underline the nature of this new order. The high tariff rates of 15 percent, the demand that American goods be imported at lower rates, and the insistence that they invest heavily in the United States have become defining features of Trump’s economic diplomacy. Japan has committed $550 billion, South Korea $350 billion, and the Europeans $600 billion in investments to U.S. industry. On top of that, Washington has pressed its partners to purchase American energy—most notably, the European Union’s agreement to buy $750 billion worth of U.S. energy over the next three years.

These demands have not only generated resentment among the United States’ allies but have also reinforced the perception that, under Trump, U.S. alliances are no longer partnerships of equals. Instead, allies are being treated as client states—expected to pay economic tribute in exchange for proximity to the superpower and its security guarantees.

While Xi both pushes back at Trump and is also willing to meet and negotiate with him, Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi seems to have stepped back from the frontlines of global diplomacy. Modi has, by default, withdrawn India from the club of major powers by repeatedly declining to be in the same room with Trump. He chose not to attend the U.N. General Assembly in September, declined an invitation to meet Trump at the White House after the G-7 summit, skipped the gathering of leaders in Sharm el-Sheikh to finalize the Israel-Gaza ceasefire, and opted out of the ASEAN summit in Kuala Lumpur. Through these absences, India has kept itself on the sidelines of major discussions shaping the global landscape.​

Perhaps we now stand at the cusp of a unipolar and a bipolar world. The emergence of a robust G-2 dialogue may signal a transition from one to the other. But there are many uncertainties ahead. Whether the agreements between the United States and China hold, and whether a final deal ultimately materializes, will determine not only the future of trade relations between the two superpowers but also the institutionalization of a truly G-2 world.

 

[Dalvinder Singh Grewal]

United States President Donald Trump has played down suggestions that Washington could launch an operation against Russian President Vladimir Putin similar to the raid that led to the capture of Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro.
Asked about Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky's cryptic remarks hinting that Putin could be next after Maduro's seizure, Trump told reporters, "I don't think it's going to be necessary. I think we're going to have—and always had—a great relationship with him."

Hours after Trump announced the capture of Venezuelan dictator Nicolas Maduro, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky weighed in with an oblique reference to Russian President Vladimir Putin and said that if a dictator can be treated the way Nicolas Maduro was, Trump knows what to do next.
In a news conference when the Ukrainian president was asked about the Maduro capture, he said, "What can I say here? If this can be done to dictators like that, then the United States of America knows what they should do next." The obvious reference was Russian President Vladimir Putin.

Speaking during a meeting with top US oil and gas executives, Trump added that he was “very disappointed” the conflict had not yet ended.

“I settled eight wars. I thought this would be in the middle of the pack or maybe one of the easier ones,” he said, referring to Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, which has been raging since 2022.

 

[Dalvinder Singh Grewal]

The US and its partner forces have carried out large-scale strikes against Islamic State (IS) group targets in Syria, the US Central Command (Centcom) has announced.​

US President Donald Trump directed the strikes on Saturday, which are part of Operation Hawkeye Strike, in retaliation to the IS's deadly attack on US forces in Syria on 13 December, Centcom wrote on X.
The strikes were conducted in an effort to combat terrorism and protect US and partner forces in the region, according to Centcom.
"Our message remains strong: if you harm our warfighters, we will find you and kill you anywhere in the world, no matter how hard you try to evade justice," Centcom said.

The US and its partner forces fired more than 90 precision munitions at more than 35 targets in an operation that involved more than 20 aircraft, an official told CBS News, the BBC's US partner.
The official added that aircraft, including F-15Es, A-10s, AC-130Js, MQ-9s, and Jordanian F-16s, had taken part in the strikes.
The location of the strikes and the extent of any casualties is not yet clear.
"We will never forget, and never relent," Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth wrote on X on Saturday in reference to the military action.
The Trump administration first announced Operation Hawkeye Strike in December after an IS gunman killed two US soldiers and a US civilian interpreter in an ambush in Palmyra, located in the center of Syria.
"This is not the beginning of a war—it is a declaration of vengeance," Hegseth said when announcing the operation in December.
"The United States of America, under President Trump's leadership, will never hesitate and never relent to defend our people."
Prior to the latest strikes on Saturday, US forces killed or captured nearly 25 IS group members in 11 missions between 20 December and 29 December as part of Operation Hawkeye Strike, Centcom said.
In the operation's first mission on 19 December, US and Jordanian forces carried out a "massive strike" against the IS group, deploying fighter jets, attack helicopters, and artillery to strike "more than 70 targets at multiple locations across central Syria," according to Centcom.
That operation, it said, "employed more than 100 precision munitions" targeting known IS infrastructure and weapons sites.
Syria has been in a fragile state since the fall of President Bashar al-Assad's regime in December 2024, which effectively ended a civil war that had ravaged the country for 13 years.
Ahmed al-Sharaa, also known by his nom-de-guerre Abu Mohammed al-Jolani, has been serving as the country's president since his rebel group ousted Assad and solidified control.
The IS has been weakened in Syria but still remains active, predominantly carrying out attacks against Kurdish-led forces in the northeast in 2025.​

 

[Dalvinder Singh Grewal]

President Donald Trump says the US needs to "own" Greenland to prevent Russia and China from doing so.

"Countries have to have ownership, and you defend ownership; you don't defend leases. And we'll have to defend Greenland," Trump told reporters on Friday, in response to a question from the BBC.

The US will do it "the easy way" or "the hard way," he added. The White House recently said the administration was considering buying the semi-autonomous territory of fellow NATO member Denmark, but it would not rule out the option of annexing it by force.

Denmark and Greenland say the territory is not for sale. Denmark has said military action would spell the end of the trans-Atlantic defence alliance.
Germany and England have endorsed the sovereign right of Denmark over Greenland and as member of NATO, it will be so protected​

 

[Dalvinder Singh Grewal]

US President Donald Trump has asked for at least $100bn (£75bn) in oil industry spending for Venezuela but received a lukewarm response at the White House, as one executive warned the South American country was currently "uninvestable."
Bosses of the biggest US oil firms who attended the meeting acknowledged that Venezuela, sitting on vast energy reserves, represented an enticing opportunity.
But they said significant changes would be needed to make the region an attractive investment. No major financial commitments were immediately forthcoming.
Trump has said he will unleash the South American nation's oil after US forces seized its leader, Nicolas Maduro, in a 3 January raid on its capital.

 

[Dalvinder Singh Grewal]

Iran says forces ready for war; accuses US, Israel of stoking unrest

Iran's armed forces, backed by the nation, are fully prepared to respond to any aggression against the country, foreign ministry spokesperson Esmaeil Baghaei stated on Monday, Iranian state broadcaster Press TV reported.

IMAGE: People gather on the streets amid anti-government unrest in Tehran, Iran, in this still image obtained from social media video released on January 8, 2026. Photograph: Social Media/via Reuters
Speaking at a press conference when asked about the possibility of war, Baghaei said Tehran is closely monitoring developments and remains ready to counter any hostile act.

"Our nation has shown that, with full might and complete courage, it defends Iran's integrity, and our readiness is incree ready to repel any act of aggression," he said.
Baghaei also alleged that recent unrest in Iran was fuelled by foreign interference, claiming riots were triggered by "very evident" interventionist remarks by US and Israeli officials.
"Peaceful protests were met with an appropriate response by the administration... But in the second stage, the country was faced with a wave of warm and cold arms, in addition to US and Israeli officials' interventionist remarks," he said, according to Press TV.
He further claimed that foreign interventions were intended to provoke chaos.
"Many believe that the recent events that happened these days were the thirteenth day of the US-Israeli aggression against our country," Baghaei said, adding that Tehran would present documents later, Press TV reported.
On Iran-US communication, Baghaei said, "The communication channel is open between the Iranian foreign minister and the US president's special envoy, through which messages are exchanged whenever needed," noting that the Swiss embassy serves as the US Interests Section in Iran.
Amid the continuing unrest, Roberta Metsola, President of the European Parliament, announced a ban on Iranian diplomats and "any other representatives of the Islamic Republic of Iran" from entering Parliament premises.
In a statement on X, Metsola said "it cannot be business as usual" as "the brave people of Iran continue to stand up for their rights and their liberty."
"This House will not aid in legitimising this regime that has sustained itself through torture, repression and murder," she added.
Meanwhile, Iranian state media aired footage of pro-government rallies across multiple cities, including a large demonstration in Tehran attended by thousands, Al Jazeera reported.
State-run agencies broadcast footage showing Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian at a rally in the capital, greeting flag-waving citizens and marching among the crowd.
Pezeshkian had earlier urged Iranians to join a "national resistance march" on Monday to condemn the violence that began two weeks ago.
He has pledged to address economic grievances, saying his government is "ready to listen" to protesters, while urging citizens to prevent "rioters" and "terrorist elements" from causing damage, Al Jazeera reported.
Iran's Embassy in India also weighed in, saying millions across Iran had condemned what it described as state-sponsored terrorism.
In a post on X, Iran in India said, "Breaking now: #Iran speaks with one voice as millions nationwide condemn the state-sponsored terrorism of the United States and the Zionist regime."
The embassy's remarks came as large demonstrations were reported across provinces, including Azerbaijan province and the central city of Arak, with crowds waving flags and chanting slogans in support of Iran, Press TV reported.
The protests and counter-demonstrations follow days of unrest amid soaring inflation, economic hardship, and public anger over governance.​

At least 544 people have been killed, and more than 10,681 individuals have been arrested and transferred to prisons, according to the Human Rights News Agency.

Against this backdrop, Iran's Foreign Minister Seyed Abbas Araghchi said there was clear evidence "linking this deadly violence to Mossad terrorists," Press TV reported.
The claim gained traction after former US State Secretary and CIA Director Mike Pompeo posted on X on January 2, "The Iranian regime is in trouble. Bringing in mercenaries is its last best hope. Riots in dozens of cities and the Basij under siege—Mashhad, Tehran, Zahedan. Next stop: Baluchistan. 47 years of this regime; POTUS 47. Coincidence?"
He added, "Happy New Year to every Iranian in the streets. Also, to every Mossad agent walking beside them," triggering speculation about foreign involvement in anti-government unrest.
Authorities have also addressed concerns about disruptions caused by internet-related issues and their impact on key services.
Iran's Civil Aviation Organisation said flights are continuing as usual despite recent connectivity disruptions.​

Majid Akhavan, the organisation's spokesperson, said all flights are "operating normally and without problems" and that airport services are fully functional, Al Jazeera reported, citing the Islamic Republic News Agency (IRNA).
Al Jazeera also reported that several foreign airlines have suspended flights to Iran amid intensifying protests.
Iranian state television aired visuals from Tehran showing crowds moving towards Enghelab Square and broadcast chants including "Death to America!" and "Death to Israel!"
It also aired a funeral procession for security forces killed in Shahrud city in Semnan province, along with demonstrations held in cities including Kerman, Zahedan, and Birjand "in condemnation of recent terrorist events," the report said.
State broadcasters described the rallies as an "Iranian uprising against American-Zionist terrorism."
The unrest has also driven heightened regional tensions.
Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi accused the US and Israel of instigating what he called a "terrorist war" inside Iran, saying, "Enemies have miscalculated their moves."
The developments follow a wider escalation in the region after Israel and the United States bombed Iranian nuclear and other sites in a 12-day war last June.
In the United States, President Donald Trump said the US military is considering a range of options.
Trump said he had been briefed during intelligence meetings and noted potential steps could range from cyberattacks to direct strikes, though no final decision has been made.
Trump also claimed Iran had reached out to Washington and was seeking talks, with the administration working to coordinate them.
On the markets, oil prices dipped slightly after earlier gains, amid geopolitical risks linked to protests in Iran and the US seizure of Venezuela's oil supplies.
Trump warned Tehran of consequences if demonstrators were harmed and said he was weighing possible military action.
"We're looking at it very seriously," Trump told reporters on Air Force One. "The military is looking at it, and we're looking at some very strong options. We'll make a determination."​

 

[Dalvinder Singh Grewal]

Recently, Venezuela spiked twice in the international media. First, when opposition leader-in-exile María Corina Machado won the Nobel Peace Prize and tipped her hat to US President Donald Trump in her acceptance speech.

The gesture left many Venezuelans both surprised and bemused, even though the two have been aligned by their shared opposition to Maduro, albeit for very different reasons.

Machado has been the popular and galvanising figure of the Opposition, disbarred from running for elections.

She picked Edmundo González Urrutia to run in her place, but his electoral victory in 2024 was declared void by Maduro who reinstated himself as president of Venezuela while the winner was forced to flee the country.

IMAGE: A supporter holds a banner that reads 'Maduro President, Venezuela, we want Nicolas back now' during a march in Caracas calling for Nicolas Maduro's release. Photograph: Fausto Torrealba/Reuters
Trump, meanwhile, has sought since his first term, to corral the Venezuelan president economically and politically.

While Trump is not the first US president to pursue this path, his sweeping embargo against Venezuelan exports marked a dramatic escalation of sanctions against entities and individuals, building on measures imposed by previous administrations.

Since last year, he has raised the stakes further by directing a military build-up in the Caribbean and authorising attacks on Venezuelan ships on grounds of alleged narco-terrorists, steps that, in hindsight, appear to have been stage-setting exercises for this latest salvo.

By now, there has been no shortage of analysis of the possible motivations and ramifications of this dramatic American coup.

Control over the world's largest oil reserves -- aimed at propping up the petrodollar increasingly threatened by non-compliant oil actors, including Maduro's attempts to strike oil-for-revenue deals in alternative currencies, has been cited.

So has the desire to wrest control over vast mineral reserves in a competitive bid with China or to stage a neocolonial demonstration of power by a US president seeking to shore up declining popularity at home.

The consequences are also being widely debated: That this act may be the straw that breaks the back of the international rules-based order, setting a precedent for similar predatory moves -- not only by the United States, but by other powerful, covetous nations across the globe.

IMAGE: A man wears a shirt featuring a design depicting Nicolas Maduro's arrest. Photograph: Angela Ponce/Reuters
Cause and consequence, shock and awe aside, the reactions of ordinary Venezuelans also merit attention.

Long beleaguered by economic collapse, political polarisation, and decades of decline, Venezuelans are living through a sombre reckoning.

On the one hand, as Daniel says, millions are undoubtedly jubilant at Maduro's removal.

Since coming to power in 2013 after succeeding Hugo Chávez—the socialist who rose to the presidency electorally before consolidating his authority into that of a familiar Latin American strongman—Maduro remained a loyalist to the Chávez project, only in a harsher, more repressive form.

He cracked down brutally on dissidents, led a falling economy into free fall, funded unaffordable welfare schemes, and allowed his cronies to enrich themselves, while vast sections of the population slipped into extreme poverty and hunger.

According to the UN, nearly eight million people—more than a quarter of the population, have fled the country as of 2024, dispersing across Latin America and beyond, many attempting perilous journeys to the United States.

IMAGE: Supporters in Caracas march on January 10, 2026 calling for Nicolas Maduro's release. Photograph: Fausto Torrealba/Reuters





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"Silence is never accidental in Venezuela," Daniel writes. "It is learned." Years of repression and disappearances have taught Venezuelans, the hard way, not to voice either their anger or their joy.

IMAGE: A march in Caracas calling for Nicolas Maduro and Cilia Flores' release. Photograph: Fausto Torrealba/Reuters
Among the hopeful, the American operation is seen as incomplete. Most Venezuelans appear to be waiting, watching to see where this leads.

The long-anticipated regime change, especially after Machado dedicated her Nobel Prize to Trump, has not materialised.

Instead of Conrado and González, whom many had hoped would assume leadership, Venezuelans are now confronted with Maduro's Vice President Delcy Rodríguez taking charge with Trump's nod, alongside other entrenched officials, with the army standing firmly behind them.

Many see this as the most visible sign that Chavismo -- as the entire regime is still referred to -- is well and alive.

Official notices issued in the immediate aftermath for weary Venezuelans, this is merely another blow to a country long abandoned by the world.

In fact, some voices on Meta express outrage that the legality of the operation has taken precedence in international discussions, rather than the fate of Venezuelans.

Joy, relief, outrage at the US' audacity -- Venezuelans may be feeling all these simultaneously, but for now, staying quiet seems the wisest course.

IMAGE: Daniel Vargas Danus in Venezuela.
There is, however, another group that is openly jubilant about Maduro's ouster: Venezuelan expatriates in Chile, Argentina, and elsewhere.

Their whispered incredulity, shared through Instagram stories and Meta reels, speaks volumes. Couples wake each other with joyous embraces, equal parts disbelief and relief.

A son informs his elderly mother, 'Maduro ya no está en Venezuela. Le llevaron a Maduro (Maduro is no longer in Venezuela. They've taken Maduro)'.

His words are met with a tearful smile. A refrain echoes through these exchanges: 'Podemos volver. (We can return).'

Another friend from my years in Venezuela, Andrés, now living in Chile, sees this hopefulness around return as a kind of delusion -- though an understandable one, given Venezuelans' deep attachment to family, especially those left behind.

He may be right. As the aftermath of the coup unfolds and Trump's vague promises give way to the continued grip of Maduro's cabal, hopes of a new dawn are already dimming.

Just the other day, state police forces issued official notices warning that anyone caught celebrating or supporting the attack and capture would be immediately arrested.

Reports have already emerged of people being detained. Under such circumstances, it is not difficult to imagine what might await émigrés who fled the regime should they attempt to return.

IMAGE: Andrés Vargas in Chile.
Yet, the dynamics continue to shift by the day. Perhaps mindful of global scrutiny and aware that the world is watching, authorities appear to be loosening their iron grip slightly, releasing some political prisoners, but only the prominent ones are confirmed so far.

However, the real ramifications are just beginning to unfold, not just for Venezuelans, but for the rest of the world as well, including India.

If, according to the American plan, American-controlled oil companies take charge of the country's oil production and reopen its oil flows, what would that mean for global oil supplies and prices, including those for India?

Although India has historically purchased less than 10% of its oil from Venezuela, there have been reports of long-term purchase arrangements in alternative currencies of Venezuelan crude oil by Indian oil companies, particularly in light of the growing geopolitical constraints around its imports emanating from Russia.

Therefore, how this coup reconfigures oil supplies to India and the world is something we will have to wait and watch for over the next few months.

Rarely do dictators and their regimes fall in the ways in which they rule.

Dictatorships operate on appearances -- by delusions of invincibility and permanence and choreographed displays of obedience rooted in fear.

When they collapse, they do so in confusion, silence, or sudden violence. Depositions can be loud and theatrical, as in the case of Nicolae Ceaușescu's final days în România; symbolic, through the toppling of statues; or a swift vanishing in the dead of night, as with Maduro.

In whichever way a dictatorship ends -- in capture, execution, or exile, the watershed moment is often psychological: it is the instant when fear and hope both change direction.

In Venezuela's case, the brief shock of awe is giving way to resignation with another cycle of hope blighted.

Venezuelans, instead of raising a toast to the New Year, are drinking in their disappointment over the coup that was, and the change that should have, but did not, come.

 

[Dalvinder Singh Grewal]

People in Iran have taken to the streets as daily life has become increasingly difficult.

Rising prices of food, fuel and basic necessities, job scarcity, and the falling value of money have fuelled wider anger and anti-government unrest in the capital Tehran and other Iranian cities.


IRAN is Burning

IMAGE: A burnt car lies on the road following unrest in this screengrab from Iran's State media broadcast footage. Photograph: IRIB/WANA(West Asia News Agency)/Reuters

IMAGE: A burnt bus lies on the road. Photograph: screengrab/IRIB/WANA/Reuters

IMAGE: Burnt vehicles lie on the road. Photograph: screengrab/IRIB/WANA/Reuters

IMAGE: City workers remove rubble from the street in Isfahan. Photograph: screengrab/IRIB/WANA/Reuters

IMAGE: A damaged car lies outside a burning building in Rasht. Photograph: screengrab/IRIB/WANA/Reuters

IMAGE: People gather at the Sabzqaba shrine in Dezful damaged in the unrest. Photograph: screengrab/IRIB/WANA/Reuters

IMAGE: Fire engulfes a building following unrest in Karaj. Photograph: screengrab/IRIB/WANA/Reuters

Support For And Against The Protests​

IMAGE: Said and Guiti, who have lived in Spain for over 40 years as refugees from Iran, attend a demonstration in Barcelona, Spain, in support of the national protests in Iran. Photograph: Albert Gea/Reuters

IMAGE: Supporters of Iraqi Shi'ite armed groups burn images of US President Donald Trump and Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu during a rally in solidarity with Iran's government in Tehran, outside the Iranian consulate in Basra, Iraq. Photograph: Mohammed Aty/Reuters

IMAGE: A man shows a sign mentioning Trump during a rally in support of nationwide protests in Iran, in Rome, Italy. Photograph: Francesco Fotia/Reuters

IMAGE: People hold the 'Lion and Sun' pre-Iranian Revolution national flag during a rally in Rome. Photograph: Francesco Fotia/Reuters

IMAGE: People hold signs during a rally in support of Iran in Rome. Photograph: Francesco Fotia/Reuters

IMAGE: A woman with a mock-up of a gunshot bullet wound on her forehead during a rally in Rome. Photograph: Francesco Fotia/Reuters

IMAGE: People hold flags and light up their phones outside the US consulate in Milan, Italy. Photograph: Claudia Greco/Reuters

IMAGE: Demonstrators holds placards outside the Iranian embassy in London during a rally in support of the protests in Iran. Photograph: Isabel Infantes/Reuters

 

[Dalvinder Singh Grewal]

US President Donald Trump on Wednesday again pushed for control of Greenland, calling it necessary for "national security" and arguing it would also bolster the North Atlantic Treaty Organisation's strength.
In a Truth Social post, Trump wrote that "anything less" than US control of Greenland is "unacceptable," adding, "NATO becomes far more formidable and effective with Greenland in the hands of the UNITED STATES."

He said that "NATO should be leading the way for us to get it," and "if we don't, Russia or China will, and that is not going to happen!"

Trump also repeated his claim that acquiring Greenland is essential for US national security and "vital for the Golden Dome that we are building," referring to the missile defence system being developed by the Pentagon.
Amid the renewed attention on Trump's remarks, European leaders have also pushed back against his calls for control over Greenland, with French President Emmanuel Macron warning on Wednesday that any attempt by Washington to seize the territory from Denmark would have "unprecedented" consequences.

Macron, speaking through his government's spokesperson, said, "We do not underestimate the statements regarding Greenland. If the sovereignty of a European and allied country were to be affected, the knock-on consequences would be unprecedented."

Macron added that France is monitoring developments closely and "will conduct its actions in full solidarity with Denmark and its sovereignty."

Earlier on Wednesday, European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen reiterated that Greenland belongs to its people and that the issue must be decided by Denmark and Greenland.

"For me, it is important Greenlanders know ... that we respect (their) wishes and they can count on us," she added.

Denmark's public broadcaster DR reported that Danish military reinforcements were sent to Greenland in preparation for a potential larger deployment. The Danish Defence Command in Copenhagen did not comment directly on the report but said that it has "increased (its) level of activity in the Arctic over the past year."

"The Danish Defence, among other things, continuously train the deployment of capabilities in the Arctic and maintains a presence as part of routine task execution as well as in preparation for upcoming activities," said Louise Hedegaard from the Danish Defence Command.

 

[Dalvinder Singh Grewal]

Troops from several European countries, including France, Germany, Norway, and Sweden, are arriving in Greenland to help boost the Arctic island's security after talks between representatives of Denmark, Greenland, and the U.S. on Wednesday highlighted “fundamental disagreement” between the Trump administration and European allies.

“The first French military elements are already en route,” and “others will follow,” French President Emmanuel Macron announced Wednesday, as French authorities said about 15 French soldiers from the mountain infantry unit were already in Nuuk for a military exercise.

Germany will deploy a reconnaissance team of 13 personnel to Greenland on Thursday, its Defense Ministry said.
Denmark announced it would increase its military presence in Greenland, with NATO allies joining them, just as the Danish and Greenlandic foreign ministers met with White House representatives on Wednesday in Washington to discuss U.S. President Donald Trump's intentions to take over the island in order to tap its mineral resources and protect the security of the Arctic region amid rising Russian and Chinese interest.

Danish Foreign Minister Lars Løkke Rasmussen, flanked by his Greenlandic counterpart Vivian Motzfeldt, said Wednesday that a “fundamental disagreement” over Greenland remains with Trump after they held highly anticipated talks at the White House with Vice President JD Vance and Secretary of State Marco Rubio.​

 

[Dalvinder Singh Grewal]

President Donald Trump said the U.S. should not have midterm elections later this year because of his accomplishments in office, according to a report in Reuters.