U.S.–Venezuela Conflict

After meeting President Trump at the White House on Jan. 15 — where she presented him with her Nobel Peace Prize medal — opposition leader María Corina Machado said Venezuela will hold "free and fair" elections "eventually" and "as soon as possible," but she gave no timeline. She said credible voting must await dismantling the country's repression apparatus, including restoring rule of law and freeing political prisoners, comments that come as Caracas has announced a limited prisoner release that rights groups say leaves hundreds detained and as the U.S. engages acting president Delcy Rodríguez.

After U.S. forces captured Nicolás Maduro and the Trump administration signaled it would "run" Venezuela — seizing tankers, arranging sales of 30–50 million barrels to U.S. markets and pressing oil majors at the White House — Caracas advanced a draft overhaul to loosen state control, cut royalties and offer international arbitration to attract foreign capital. That mix of U.S. export control, promised revenue oversight and pro‑investor legal changes risks sidelining China’s state oil companies, which hold claims on more than 4 billion barrels now contingent on Washington’s policy and commercial decisions.