April 7, 2026

South America Watch

Trump eases Venezuela sanctions to boost oil supply and limit Iran disruptions – www.washingtonexaminer.com

pgnewser March 19, 2026 0

Blurb:

U.S. companies will now be allowed to do business with Venezuela’s state-owned oil and gas firm, as the Trump administration has moved to further ease sanctions on the country as part of its broader effort to ease crude oil supply disruptions caused by the war in Iran.

On Wednesday, the Treasury Department’s Office of Foreign Assets Control issued a general license authorizing certain transactions involving Petroleos de Venezuela, S.A., more simply known as PdVSA. The license will allow the state-owned fossil fuel company to directly sell Venezuelan oil and gas to U.S. businesses that existed before Jan. 29, 2025, with certain stipulations.

Chile, U.S. Plan for Strategic Collaboration on Rare Earths and Other Critical Minerals– legalinsurrection.com

pgnewser March 19, 2026 0

Blurb:

 

Late last year, my colleague Elizabeth Stauffer reported that “ultra-conservative” candidate José Antonio Kast had won a landslide victory in Chile’s presidential election.

And by “ultra-conservative,” what is really meant is running for office by promising to take actions that normal people want and need. Kast, a Roman Catholic and lawyer, had a campaign centered on restoring order, cracking down on crime and illegal immigration, and revitalizing Chile’s market-oriented economic model through spending cuts and pro-business reforms.

How is Kast doing at this point? Less than a week after his inauguration, construction of a border wall between Chile and Peru began.

Less than a week after his inauguration, Chile’s arch-conservative president on Monday began overseeing preparations to build a border barrier — part of his flagship campaign promise to block immigrants from crossing illegally.

From Chile’s northern frontier area of Chacalluta, where legions of immigrants have slipped across the Peruvian border into one of the region’s most prosperous nations, Kast vowed to implement what he calls his “Border Shield” plan. Among other steps, it involves the construction of a physical barrier at the nation’s northern border made up of ditches and fences and patrolled by drones and the military forces.

…Kast assured the public that “for all of Chile, this is a milestone.”

“We have taken clear and concrete decisions to close our border to illegal immigration, drug trafficking and organized crime,” he said. “We want to implement this without any delay.”

U.S. eases Venezuela oil sanctions amid Iran war energy crisis – National– globalnews.ca

pgnewser March 19, 2026 0

Blurb:

U.S. companies will be allowed to do business with Venezuela’s state-owned oil and gas company after the Treasury Department eased sanctions, with some limitations, on Wednesday as the Trump administration looks for ways to boost world oil supplies during the Iran war.

The Treasury issued a broad authorization allowing Petróleos de Venezuela S.A, or PDVSA, to directly sell Venezuelan oil to U.S. companies and on global markets, a massive shift after Washington for years had largely blocked dealings with Venezuela’s government and its oil sector.

Separately, the White House said Trump would waive, for 60 days, Jones Act requirements for goods shipped between U.S. ports to be moved on U.S.-flagged vessels. The 1920s law, designed to protect the American shipbuilding sector, is often blamed for making gas more expensive.

The moves highlight the increased pressure that the Republican administration is under to ease soaring oil prices as the United States, along with Israel, wages a war with Iran without a foreseeable end date. Global oil prices have since spiked as Iran halted traffic through the narrow Strait of Hormuz, where one-fifth of the world’s oil typically passes through from the Persian Gulf to customers worldwide.

Peru’s prime minister resigns ahead of congressional confirmation vote– abcnews.com

pgnewser March 18, 2026 0

Blurb:

LIMA, Peru — Peru’s prime minister resigned Tuesday ahead of a mandatory vote in the nation’s Congress, where she needed a majority of legislators to confirm her recent appointment.

Denisse Miralles was appointed as prime minister in late February, after Interim President José Jerí was removed from his post following corruption allegations and replaced by congressman Jose María Balcázar.

In Peru, prime ministers coordinate the implementation of government policies, but they are not elected into office and do not lead the executive branch, which is headed by the president.

Miralles, the former economy minister under Jerí, did not say why she resigned. However, she informed journalists that she was uncertain she could secure the congressional majority required for her confirmation on Wednesday.

Chile Asks Pam Bondi to Interrogate Nicolás Maduro About Killing of Venezuelan Dissident– www.breitbart.com

pgnewser March 18, 2026 0

Blurb:

Chile National Prosecutor Ángel Valencia on Monday requested U.S. Attorney General Pam Bondi to interrogate Nicolás Maduro about the assassination of exiled Venezuelan dissident Ronald Ojeda.

Valencia traveled to Washington and had a work meeting with Bondi, seeking to strengthen security cooperation between Chile and the United States as well as cooperation in the fight against organized crime. The Chilean Public Prosecutor’s Office detailed that the first topic addressed by Valencia and Bondi was the prosecution of money laundering and the protection of the two countries’ financial systems.

The second subject, Valencia said, was to continue strengthening Chile’s cooperation with the United States regarding the pursuit of Tren de Aragua (TdA) and the “Aragua Pirates,” a TdA faction operating in Chile, as well as prosecution of crimes committed by “associated gangs in our country, such as the murder of Lieutenant Ronald Ojeda.”

‘We’re At War’: Ecuador Kicks Off Anti-Drug Cartel Campaign With US Backing– dailycaller.com

pgnewser March 16, 2026 0

Blurb:

Ecuador began two weeks of operations against drug traffickers with support from the U.S., deploying thousands of police officers and soldiers on March 15.

The two-week campaign will target criminal gangs in several dangerous provinces, including Guayas, Los Rios and Santo Domingo de los Tsachilas, according to the Washington Examiner. The U.S. will provide material support. Officials have imposed curfews from 11 p.m. to 5 a.m. in coastal regions until March 30.

“We’re at war,” Ecuadorian Interior Minister John Reimberg told locals in several provinces, the BBC reported. “Don’t take any risks, don’t go out, stay at home.”

He announced that Ecuador was deploying over 75,000 soldiers and police officers for the campaign, according to the outlet. Reimberg also wrote that 35,000 police officers were deployed in Guayas, Los Rios, El Oro and Santo Domingo de los Tsachilas in a post on X. “To the mafias: your time is up. Nothing can stop us,” the post said.

Will Colombia Follow Its Neighbors and Make a Right-Wing Comeback? – PJ Media– pjmedia.com

pgnewser March 10, 2026 0

Blurb:

Colombia has always been a conservative, right-leaning country, but in 2022, it elected the former guerilla turned socialist wacko Gustavo Petro. It hasn’t had a good time ever since, whether it’s been economic struggles or the fact that el presidente has attempted to curb violence in the country by sharing hugs and popsicles and rainbows with terrorist groups through his “total piece” plan.

When he’s not doing any of that, he’s usually on social media talking about how well he can please a woman or how great he is at writing erotic poetry. Occasionally, he throws in some anti-United States, anti-Israel, or anti-Donald Trump diatribe about imperialism. When he’s not on social media, he’s giving erratic speeches and chaotic interviews, or visiting the United States, where he likes to make a fool of himself. He’s been in our country three times over the past six months.

The first time, he stood outside the UN on the streets of New York with Roger Waters and called for the U.S. military to rise up against Donald Trump. The State Department threatened to take away his visa, though it’s not clear now whether it ever did. The second time was earlier this year when he reluctantly called Donald Trump up for an in-person meeting after he saw what Trump did to Petro’s pal, Nicolás Maduro. Trump made him use the back door. The third time was this past Friday when he spoke at Jesse Jackson’s funeral, and by spoke, I mean carried on so long that he had to be shuffled off the stage.

Trump: Oil ‘Beginning to Flow’ from Venezuela– slaynews.com

pgnewser March 6, 2026 0

Blurb:

President Donald Trump said oil production is “beginning to flow” from Venezuela as Washington and Caracas work together to restore energy output following the capture of former Venezuelan dictator Nicolás Maduro.

Trump made the announcement in a post on Truth Social, describing cooperation between the two countries as productive.

“Delcy Rodríguez, who is the President of Venezuela, is doing a great job, and working with U.S. Representatives very well,” Trump wrote.

Venezuela Becomes a De Facto U.S. Ally

pgnewser March 6, 2026 1

The United States and Venezuela have officially restored diplomatic and consular relations that President Trump claims will lead to favorable oil and rare earth mineral deals for the U.S., deals that freeze Russia and China out of the equation. U.S. Interior Secretary Doug Burgum said of the agreement, “When we are working together it can only mean two things, which is prosperity for the people of Venezuela and for the citizens of the United States, and it also brings peace and stability for the world.”

Blurb:

U.S. Restores Diplomatic Ties With Venezuela In Historic Agreement – Trending Politics

The United States and Venezuela have formally agreed to restore diplomatic and consular relations, marking a significant shift in their bilateral ties after years of tension.

The announcement was formally made on Thursday after several weeks of improving relations, which started after the capture of former Venezuelan dictator Nicolas Maduro in a daring raid last month.

Diplomatic relations between the two countries were last in place until January 2019, when the U.S. recognized opposition leader Juan Guaidó as Venezuela’s interim president amid disputes over the legitimacy of Nicolás Maduro’s re-election. In response, Maduro’s government severed ties, leading to the closure of the U.S. Embassy in Caracas and Venezuela’s embassy in Washington, D.C.

Consular services were suspended, and diplomatic personnel were withdrawn as a result of the move. This limited interactions between the two countries to indirect channels, while the U.S. placed extensive economic sanctions on Maduro’s regime.

Formal rapprochement began in the days following Maduro’s capture, when Delcy Rodríguez, Maduro’s vice president, was sworn in as acting president and quickly signaled openness to dialogue. On January 9, the Venezuelan government issued a statement indicating the start of an “exploratory diplomatic process” with the U.S., aimed at re-establishing diplomatic missions in both countries.

Then-Venezuelan Vice President Delcy Rodriguez meets with the Russian government in September 2024

By late January, the U.S. notified Congress of plans to implement a phased approach to resuming embassy functions, including sending temporary staff for select diplomatic activities. Discussions expanded to include economic cooperation, particularly in energy and mining sectors, as the Trump administration sought to reduce reliance on foreign sources for critical minerals and oil.

In February, the U.S. Embassy in Caracas reopened for limited operations, and Venezuela released several political prisoners as part of reconciliation efforts.

These moves paid the way for the most high-profile milestone to date, when U.S. Interior Secretary Doug Burgum visited Caracas for two days. The secretary met with President Rodriguez and representatives from U.S. mining and energy firms, with talks centered on investment opportunities and security assurances for foreign companies operating in Venezuela’s mineral-rich regions.

“When we are working together it can only mean two things, which is prosperity for the people of Venezuela and for the citizens of the United States, and it also brings peace and stability for the world,” Burgum said following the meeting.

The restoration of relations is expected to facilitate phased improvements in areas such as visa services, trade, and security cooperation. The agreement aligns with U.S. goals of fostering a democratic transition, which could soon lead to easing of sanctions and more detailed framework on economic agreements.

RELATED: Iran Fires Ballistic Missile At NATO Country In Major Escalation

from trendingpoliticsnews.com

Peru Axes Pro-China President

pgnewser February 18, 2026 1

After it was revealed that Peru’s President, Jose Jeri, had secret meetings with members of the Chinese Communist Party, the congress moved quickly to remove the President, who had only been in power for four months. He is the eighth President in eight years and the third President in the time-period to be removed by the congress.

Blurb:

Peruvian President Jose Jeri ousted over China-linked secret meetings – channelnewsasia.com

Peru’s Congress on Tuesday (Feb 18) ousted President Jose Jeri just four months into his term over a scandal involving undisclosed meetings with a Chinese businessman, extending a cycle of political upheaval that has gripped the Andean nation for much of the past decade.

There were 75 lawmakers who voted in favour of removing Jeri, while 24 voted against and three abstained….

The scandal that was dubbed “Chifagate” – after a local name for Chinese restaurants – began last month when Jeri was filmed arriving at a restaurant late at night wearing a hood to meet with Chinese businessman Zhihua Yang, who owns stores and a concession for an energy project. The meeting was not publicly disclosed.

Jeri became president in October after Peru’s unpopular Congress voted unanimously to remove his predecessor Dina Boluarte, as the right-wing parties that had backed her dropped their support amid corruption scandals and growing anger over rising crime.

Peru has lost another president. Here’s why, and what happens next – National– globalnews.ca

pgnewser February 18, 2026 0

Blurb:

Peru’s Congress on Tuesday voted to remove interim President José Jerí from office, triggering a fresh wave of political instability just weeks before the nation’s April presidential election.

Jerí was Peru’s seventh president in less than a decade, and will now be replaced by a member of Congress, who will be expected to lead the country during the election and until the nation’s newly elected president is sworn in on July 28.

Venezuelan opposition politician under house arrest after kidnap, son says – BBC

pgnewser February 11, 2026 0

Blurb:

  1. Venezuelan opposition politician under house arrest after kidnap, son says  BBC
  2. Venezuelan Opposition Politician Placed Under House Arrest After Release From Jail, Son Says  PBS
  3. Venezuela to move just-freed opposition politician to house arrest  Reuters
  4. Venezuelan Opposition Politician Guanipa Under House Arrest, Son Says  U.S. News & World Report
  5. Venezuelan opposition politician placed under house arrest after release from jail, son says  ClickOnDetroit | WDIV Local 4
  6. Venezuelan opposition politician placed under house arrest after release from jail, son says  Toronto Star

from news.google.com

Machado posits Venezuela elections could be held by November– www.washingtonexaminer.com

pgnewser February 5, 2026 0

Blurb:

Venezuela opposition leader Maria Corina Machado is angling for her country to hold “real” elections by as early as November.

Acting Venezuelan President Delcy Rodriguez, a holdover from former dictator Nicolas Maduro’s government, is technically leading the state and has been fairly cooperative with the Trump administration to enact reforms in the meantime.

“We believe that a real transferring process with manual voting … could be done in nine to 10 months,” Machado told Politico Playbook’s Dasha Burns this week. “We have a legitimate leadership with huge popular support, and our armed forces are also supportive of a transition to democracy.”

Chile Reports Lowest Birth Rates in Recorded History– www.breitbart.com

pgnewser February 3, 2026 0

Blurb:

Chile’s National Institute of Statistics (INE) on Wednesday published data that showed the country’s fertility rate has fallen to the lowest level in its recorded history: just 0.97 children per woman.

The INE noted that births began to decline in Chile beginning in 2010. Last year, the fertility rate was 1.06 children and, if the trend continues, it will sink to 0.89 in 2028.

INE head of demography Miguel Ojeda predicted “the number of deaths will exceed the number of births” in 2028, “beginning a period of negative population growth.”

Washington presses Venezuela interim leader on post-Maduro 'transition'– www.france24.com

pgnewser February 3, 2026 0

Blurb:

Venezuela’s interim president Delcy Rodriguez consolidated her new government on Monday by appointing key ministers and meeting Washington’s new charge d’affaires, Laura Dogu, in Caracas to discuss US plans for “stabilisation, economic recovery, reconciliation and transition.” Foreign Minister Yvan Gil said talks focused on bridging historical differences between the two countries.
from www.france24.com

Rubio set to warn of future military action if Venezuela’s new leaders stray from US goals– www.channelnewsasia.com

pgnewser January 28, 2026 0

Blurb:

While keeping pressure on those whom the Trump administration dubs “narcotraffickers” without providing evidence, US officials also are working to normalise ties with Venezuelan acting President Delcy Rodriguez.

Nonetheless, Rubio will make clear in his testimony that she has little choice but to comply with Trump’s demands.

“Rodriguez is well aware of the fate of Maduro; it is our belief that her own self-interest aligns with advancing our key objectives,” Rubio will say, noting that they include opening Venezuela’s energy sector to US companies, providing preferential access to production, using oil revenue to purchase American goods, and ending subsidised oil exports to Cuba.

‘Not Allowed To Talk About It’: Trump Says US Deployed ‘Discombobulator’ Weapon During Maduro Raid– dailycaller.com

pgnewser January 27, 2026 0

Blurb:

President Donald Trump revealed the U.S. military used a secret weapon he calls “The Discombobulator” during the January raid that captured Venezuelan dictator Nicolas Maduro.

Trump made the disclosure in an interview with the New York Post from the Oval Office. He said the weapon disabled enemy equipment during the Jan. 3 operation in Caracas.

“The Discombobulator. I’m not allowed to talk about it,” Trump told the outlet. The president said Venezuelan forces armed with Russian and Chinese rockets failed to mount any defense.

How CIA Director John Ratcliffe Has Revitalized Spy Agency in President’s First Year Back– www.breitbart.com

pgnewser January 27, 2026 0

Blurb:

CIA Director John Ratcliffe has emerged as President Donald Trump’s “quiet hammer,” a source close to the White House told Breitbart News for an in-depth profile of the world’s premier spy agency in the first year back in office for Trump.

This source specifically pointed to how Trump sent Ratcliffe down to Venezuela just 12 days after the daring mission in which U.S. forces captured now-ousted leader Nicolas Maduro. Ratcliffe met with acting Venezuelan president Delcy Rodriguez, Trump’s highest-ranking and first Cabinet-level official to visit the nation since Maduro’s capture.

“Ratcliffe has become Trump’s quiet hammer,” this source close to the White House said. “He goes in, accomplishes whatever mission the President gave him, then disappears back into the shadows. The Agency seems to have adopted the same approach, so Trump actually deserves credit for turning the CIA into an instrument of America First power.”

Trump seizes SEVENTH tanker in Caribbean as footage shows special forces on boat after it ‘took oil from Venezuela’– www.thesun.co.uk

pgnewser January 21, 2026 0

Blurb:

AMERICAN forces have seized a seventh oil tanker linked to Venezuela as President Donald Trump ramps up his campaign to choke off illicit crude exports from the country.

US Southern Command said the Motor Vessel Sagitta was boarded and taken under control “without incident” in the Caribbean after operating in defiance of Trump’s quarantine on sanctioned ships.

In Venezuela, Big Oil Collides with a Hotter Planet– www.scientificamerican.com

pgnewser January 20, 2026 0

Blurb:

Kendra Pierre-Louis: For Scientific American’s Science Quickly, I’m Kendra Pierre-Louis, in for Rachel Feltman.

Over the past couple of weeks oil—specifically, Venezuelan oil—has been all over the headlines.

It started late on January 2, when President Donald Trump ordered U.S. military forces to enter Venezuela and capture the country’s president, Nicolás Maduro, which they did early the next morning. Last week the country’s interior minister said the action killed 100 people.

U.S. Navy Seizes Sixth Venezuelan Oil Tanker in Caribbean as Trump Escalates Crackdown– slaynews.com

pgnewser January 20, 2026 0

Blurb:

The U.S. military has seized another fugitive oil tanker linked to Venezuela in the Caribbean, marking the sixth vessel captured as the Trump administration intensifies its campaign against illicit oil trafficking.

U.S. Southern Command announced Thursday that American forces intercepted the Motor/Tanker Veronica during a pre-dawn operation carried out by Marines and sailors from Joint Task Force Southern Spear.

“In another pre-dawn action, Marines and Sailors from Joint Task Force Southern Spear, in support of the Department of Homeland Security, launched from USS Gerald R. Ford and apprehended Motor/Tanker Veronica without incident,” the command said in a statement.

FBI Raids House of Washington Post Reporter in Pentagon Leak Probe; Suspected Leaker ‘Behind Bars’ › American Greatness– amgreatness.com

pgnewser January 15, 2026 0

Blurb:

The FBI searched the home of Washington Post reporter Hannah Natanson Wednesday morning,  as part of a classified document leak investigation.
Agents reportedly executed a search warrant at her residence in suburban Alexandria, Va., seizing her phone, a Garmin watch, and two laptops (a personal computer and a Washington Post-issued device).

Natanson was reportedly told she is not the target of the investigation.

The suspected leaker, Aurelio Perez-Lugones, is a Maryland-based government system administrator with top-secret clearance. The Justice Department alleges in its complaint that he took home classified material, including documents found in his lunchbox and basement.

Attorney General Pam Bondi announced in a statement on X that Perez-Lugones “is currently behind bars.”

Leavitt holds White House press briefing after Trump meets with Venezuelan opposition leader– www.washingtonexaminer.com

pgnewser January 15, 2026 0

Blurb:

Leavitt’s briefing comes as President Donald Trump meets with the Venezuelan opposition leader Maria Corina Machado at 12:30 p.m. at the White House. Trump has backed interim Venezuelan president Delcy Rodriguez following the United States’s ouster of former dictator Nicolas Maduro, instead of immediately supporting a regime change led by Machado.

Also on the foreign policy front, Leavitt is likely to face questions from reporters on the administration’s goals in Iran and Greenland. The briefing may also cover Trump’s newly announced “Great Healthcare Plan,” which he outlined for Congress.

Venezuelan Leader Plucked from China’s Protection –

pgnewser January 14, 2026 1

Despite the security provided President Nicolas Maduro of Venezuela by his two strongest allies, Russia and China, U.S. forces were able to quickly enter the country and within less than 3 hours return with Maduro and his wife to the U.S. Reports of advanced military tech being used to easily overcome Venezuelan forces equipped in mid-range Chinese and Russian military tech have not been confirmed.

The move sends a powerful message to China and Russia’s allies that their protection might be no protection at all. Currently, Maduro is facing “evolving charges.” His VP has taken over and, as of now, appears to be willing to cooperate with the U.S. The role of Exxon in developing the oil earmarked for America (for resale on the market) is in doubt after the CEO went afoul of President Trump.

Blurb:

Shed no tears for Nicolas Maduro – the Left’s anger at Donald Trump is remarkable – ww.express.co.uk

An early contender for photograph of the year has to be this image of former Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro with his hands bound, wearing ear defenders and giant dark glasses denying him any form of vision. Let’s be clear: shed no tears for this dictatorial tyrant. He stole an election, condemned his country to eye-watering inflation of over 200% and imprisoned opponents or allowed them to be “vanished.” What is remarkable is the contrived anger from the Liberal Left, who have worshiped crooked Marxist Maduro for years.

We live in a world – more for worse than better – of ‘strong men,’ as evidenced by the likes of Maduro along with the likes of Putin, Jong Un and Xi. Therefore, why is it so wrong for another ‘strong man’ to try and stand up to one of them and remove a callous dictator?