Venezuela

Trump’s Hint to Oil Executives Weeks Before Maduro Ouster: ‘Get Ready’

El Palito Refinery

President Trump had a vague but tantalizing message for a couple of American oil executives roughly a month before the U.S. captured Venezuelan strongman Nicolás Maduro: “Get ready.”

Big changes were coming to Venezuela, Trump hinted.

Although Trump gave the executives a hint, he didn’t provide them with specific details of the strikes on Caracas that unfolded early Saturday, according to people familiar with the matter. Nor did he seek their advice on a plan unveiled the same day to have U.S. energy companies revitalize Venezuela’s dilapidated oil fields with multibillion-dollar investments.

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by Blazingcatfur••0•Posted inUSA, Venezuela

John Ivison: Starkly different reactions by Carney and Poilievre to Venezuela are revealing

It seems clear that there was great excitement in the Poilievre household on Saturday morning, as news of the surgical strike by U.S. special forces in Venezuela filtered through.

Pierre Poilievre’s wife, Anaida, is Venezuelan, and like many of her fellow citizens, she likely rejoiced in the arrest and deportation of the illegitimate president Nicolás Maduro.

By 9:36 a.m. the Conservative leader had posted on social media his congratulations to American President Donald Trump for arresting the “narco-terrorist and socialist dictator.”

Summary: Trump bad, Poilievre bad.

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by Blazingcatfur••0•Posted inCanada, USA, Venezuela

Poilievre calls for immediate pipeline approval following U.S. action in Venezuela

OTTAWA — Conservative Leader Pierre Poilievre is warning the federal government that the possible end of American sanctions on Venezuelan oil could displace Canadian exports to the U.S. — and is urging the Liberals to “immediately approve a pipeline to the Pacific Coast.”

In a letter to Prime Minister Mark Carney posted on social media Tuesday, Poilievre said the action taken by the United States over the weekend has “altered the global energy landscape.”

U.S. President Donald Trump ordered a military raid on the Venezuelan capital, capturing President Nicolás Maduro and bringing him to New York to face charges. Trump also has openly said that he plans to take control of the country’s oil industry and encourage American companies to revitalize the sector.

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by Blazingcatfur••0•Posted inCanada, USA, Venezuela

Michael Higgins: Mark Carney can’t decide whether removing Maduro was good or bad

The reaction to the capture of Venezuelan dictator Nicolás Maduro roughly falls into two camps: those who celebrate the downfall of a corrupt narco-terrorist and those who condemn it as a suspected breach of international law.

Prime Minister Mark Carney chose a third option, a wishy-washy, bland statement that neither praised the detention on moral grounds nor criticized it on the basis it might be illegal.

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by Blazingcatfur••0•Posted inCanada, USA, Venezuela

Far-left, China-aligned groups organized pro-Nicolas Maduro protests in New York and other US states: ‘Unprecedented crime’

Pro-Nicolas Maduro protesters who turned up in Times Square and outside the Brooklyn federal lock-up where the former Venezuelan leader is being held were organized by hardcore left-wing group The People’s Forum, which has close ties to China.

The group — also behind anti-Israel demonstrations around the nation — called for “emergency protests nationwide” shortly after President Trump announced Saturday US forces had captured Maduro and his wife, Cilia Flores.

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by Blazingcatfur••0•Posted inUSA, Venezuela

US foes and allies denounce Trump’s ‘crime of aggression’ in Venezuela at UN meeting

The US has faced widespread condemnation for a “crime of aggression” in Venezuela at an emergency meeting of the United Nations security council.

Brazil, China, Colombia, Cuba, Eritrea, Mexico, Russia, South Africa and Spain were among countries that on Monday denounced Donald Trump’s decision to launch deadly strikes on Venezuela and snatch its leader, Nicolás Maduro and his wife, Cilia Flores, to stand trial in the US.

“The bombings on Venezuelan territory and the capture of its president cross an unacceptable line,” Sérgio França Danese, the Brazilian ambassador to the UN, told the meeting. “These acts constitute a very serious affront to the sovereignty of Venezuela and set an extremely dangerous precedent for the entire international community.”

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by Blazingcatfur••0•Posted inUSA, Venezuela

Don’t expect a big gush of Venezuelan oil onto world markets any time soon

When it comes to the country with the world’s largest oil reserves, U.S. President Donald Trump didn’t mince words on why U.S. commandos seized Venezuela’s president. “They stole our oil,” Mr. Trump said.

Put aside for a moment clear violations of international law from U.S. actions and the fact “our” oil somehow ended up under Venezuela’s soil.

A picture Mr. Trump posted on Truth Social of deposed Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro handcuffed and blindfolded in a tracksuit aboard a U.S. navy ship conjures images of other oil-rich autocrats deposed by Washington and its proxies: Iraq’s Saddam Hussein and Libya’s Muammar Gaddafi. Neither of those interventions ended well.

So many critics cite “international law” while ignoring the sheer delight of the Venezuelan people at Maduro’s removal.

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by Blazingcatfur••0•Posted inCanada, USA, Venezuela

Trump is forcing us to confront the world as it really is. That’s a good thing

The ignominious capture of Nicolás Maduro proves, if nothing else, that America no longer bothers with pretences.

It wasn’t always so. Back in the autumn of 2002, the US military machine was gearing up to invade Iraq and destroy Saddam Hussein’s regime.

Yet instead of sending his forces into action as rapidly as possible, George W Bush chose to place the case for war before the United Nations General Assembly, promising on Sept 12 2002 to “work with the UN Security Council for the necessary resolutions”.

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by Blazingcatfur••0•Posted inUSA, Venezuela

The Conservative and Liberal responses to Venezuela reflect vastly different foreign-policy outlooks

The Liberals and Conservatives offered completely different responses to the Trump administration’s abduction of Venezuelan strongman Nicolás Maduro.

Those responses reflect the worldview of each party. For Conservatives, foreign policy is rooted in values; for Liberals, in interests.

On Saturday morning, not long after word arrived that American special forces had captured and abducted Mr. Maduro and his wife, Cilia Flores, Conservative Leader Pierre Poilievre issued a statement on X. “Congratulations to President Trump on successfully arresting narcoterrorist and socialist dictator Nicolás Maduro, who should live out his days in prison.”

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by Blazingcatfur••0•Posted in"Canadian Politics", USA, Venezuela

Trump, Maduro, and What’s Next

Five dimensional chess? Or is it six?

The usual suspect have, in fact, gone from “No Kings” to complaining that Trump has somehow violated international law. This is true only to the extent that “international law” means “a wish-fulfillment tool for the Left.” Which is its chief use now.

But what Trump did is basically indistinguishable — except for being much swifter and cheaper — than what George H.W. Bush did with Manuel Noriega, the “President” of Panama (not recognized as such by the United States due to election fraud) just as Maduro was the “President” of Venezuela, but not recognized as such by the United States (and other countries) due to election fraud.

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by Blazingcatfur••0•Posted inUSA, Venezuela

“Experts” say Canada should co-ordinate Western Hemisphere response to Maduro’s ouster

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OTTAWA – Foreign policy experts say Ottawa should reach out to nations threatened by the United States to co-ordinate a response to the Trump administration’s actions against Venezuela.

The U.S. shocked the world this weekend when it captured Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro in a military raid that followed months of airstrikes on Venezuelan boats Washington said were trafficking drugs.

Max Cameron, a professor at the University of British Columbia who studies the politics of Latin America, says this could be the first step in Washington’s deployment of its new national security strategy, which calls for the U.S. to exert more control over North and South America.

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by Blazingcatfur••0•Posted inCanada, USA, Venezuela, WTF?

‘I’m a prisoner of war’ – In the room for Maduro’s dramatic court hearing

The sound of clanking leg shackles could be heard moments before Venezuelan leader Nicolás Maduro walked into the door of a New York City courtroom for the first time.

He then told packed rows of reporters and the public that he had just been “kidnapped”.

Minutes after his entrance, the Judge Alvin Hellerstein asked Maduro to confirm his identity so the proceedings could start.

More … I saw how Maduro was humbled in court

Venezuela’s ‘kidnapped’ ex-president tried to put on a defiant front as he was heckled at Manhattan hearing

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by Blazingcatfur••0•Posted inUSA, Venezuela

Canadian energy stocks tumble after U.S. incursion in Venezuela

North American oil prices climbed by more than one per cent on Monday following the upheaval in Venezuela over the weekend, while stock prices of some large Canadian oil and gas companies have fallen.

A barrel of West Texas Intermediate, the North American benchmark, was trading about 1.5 per cent higher by midday, up nearly $1 to just over $58 US. Prices remain relatively cheap and are about $15 lower than compared to one year ago.

Meanwhile, several Canadian oil and gas companies are taking a hit to their stock price. The Toronto Stock Exchange’s energy index was down about 4.5 per cent by midday Monday.

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by Blazingcatfur••0•Posted inCanada, USA, Venezuela

‘This changes everything’: Here’s how Canada could be impacted by the U.S.’ abduction of Maduro

After the U.S. abducted Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro in a military-raid, there was simultaneous celebration and global outcry.

While many Venezuelans praised the capture of a man widely considered to be an authoritarian ruler — who is being investigated by the International Criminal Court (ICC) for crimes against humanity — protesters around the world also denounced the U.S.’s assault.

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by Blazingcatfur••0•Posted inCanada, USA, Venezuela

Cuba in a Panic

Few people are more upset about Nicolás Maduro’s arrest than the descendants of the Fidel Castro regime in Cuba. (Well, except for maybe the Democrats in Congress and other white leftists in the United States.)

Current Cuban President Miguel Díaz-Canel has come out swinging against the Donald Trump administration’s recent actions both in person and on social media. But while he talks a good game about “imperialism,” his demeanor is anything but tough. The man is obviously terrified, and rightfully so.

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by Blazingcatfur••0•Posted inCuba, USA, Venezuela