As Venezuela Buckles Under Trump, Iran Sees an Uncomfortable Parallel

Maduro’s fall puts Iran’s deep energy and defense cooperation with Venezuela at risk

Last week’s capture of Venezuelan president Nicolás Maduro opened the world to see the mess that the country with the largest proven oil deposit in the world was still starving and abusing its people. But there’s more to it than the alleged crimes of the previous leader.Notably, one of Venezuela’s closest allies over the past few years has been the Islamic Republic of Iran. Broadly speaking, that regime is a staunch enemy of the West, and specif…

With Maduro gone and Venezuela’s oil cut off, Cuba is isolated and vulnerable

Raúl Castro (left) and Nicolás Maduro during a 2014 summit on Ebola in Havana. Cubadebate / Flickr, CC BY “And when he woke up, the oil was still there…” The Dinosaur is a one-sentence story, penned in 1959 by Guatemalan author Augusto Monterroso. One of the shortest stories ever written, it likely refers to the “dinosaurs” of power, to Central America’s numerous, longstanding dictators, and to the ghosts that survive apparent changes. In the ab…

U.S. Aims to Reassert Global Dominance By Controlling Venezuelan Oil Reserves

Like most Americans I was “shocked but not surprised,” as the saying goes, by the Trump administration’s decision to snatch Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro from his bed and render him to New York to face international narcotics trafficking charges. Whether Maduro has committed any crime or not is yet to be seen. But that will […] The post U.S. Aims to Reassert Global Dominance By Controlling Venezuelan Oil Reserves first appeared on CovertAc…

As Venezuela buckles under Trump, Iran sees an uncomfortable parallel

Pockets of protests erupting across Iran over the past week have intensified pressure on a dysfunctional government struggling to manage a spiraling economic crisis.

Maduro, the IRGC, and the Globalization of the Terror Threat to Israel

Key Takeaways: Nicolás Maduro’s capture by the U.S. weakens a key global hub for narcotics trafficking and corruption — and disrupts one of Iran’s closest strategic partnerships outside the Middle East. For years, Venezuela has served as an IRGC-linked outpost, enabling Iran and Hezbollah to launder money, smuggle gold and oil, traffic drugs, and finance terrorism — including through Venezuela-based operatives. Removing Maduro threatens Iran’…

US-Venezuela Diplomatic Thaw Sparks Geopolitical Shifts

The recent announcement that the United States and Venezuela are exploring the reestablishment of diplomatic relations has sent shockwaves through the geopolitical and financial landscapes. This development, following the capture and extradition of former Venezuelan leader Nicolás Maduro, presents a complex tapestry of opportunities and challenges that could redefine the economic and political… Source