| Area Total | 912,050 sq km |
| Climate | tropical; hot, humid; more moderate in highlands |
| Natural Resources | petroleum, natural gas, iron ore, gold, bauxite, other minerals, hydropower, diamonds |
| Imports | agricultural products, livestock, raw materials, machinery and equipment, transport equipment, construction materials, medical equipment, petroleum products, pharmaceuticals, chemicals, iron and steel products – US 24.8%, China 14.2%, Mexico 9.5% (2017) |
| Government | federal presidential republic |
| Capital | Caracas |
| Population | 31,689,176 (July 2018 est.) |
| Ethnicity | unspecified Spanish, Italian, Portuguese, Arab, German, African, indigenous people |
| Language | Spanish (official), numerous indigenous dialects |
| Exports | petroleum and petroleum products, bauxite and aluminum, minerals, chemicals, agricultural products – US 34.8%, India 17.2%, China 16%, Netherlands Antilles 8.2%, Singapore 6.3%, Cuba 4.2% (2017) |
News about Venezuela
- Venezuela sets fast-track protocol for amnesty as families wait for further releases
on February 21, 2026Venezuelan authorities approved on Friday a protocol to speed up implementation of an amnesty law passed the previous day by the National Assembly, as relatives of political detainees kept vigils outside several detention sites, calling for additional releases.
- Uruguay foreign minister Lubetkin grilled over Venezuela, China–Taiwan wording and US visas
on February 20, 2026Uruguay’s foreign minister Mario Lubetkin appeared before Parliament’s Permanent Commission after an opposition-led interpellation focused on the government’s stance on Venezuela, a Taiwan-related line included in a joint statement with China, and the lack of clarity over US immigration-visa restrictions affecting Uruguay.
- Venezuela passes unanimous amnesty law, excluding armed actions and serious crimes
on February 20, 2026Venezuela’s National Assembly unanimously approved an amnesty law on Thursday aimed at covering people prosecuted or convicted in political-crisis episodes between 2002 and 2025, a measure lawmakers said is designed to speed releases and close related court cases. The bill was sent to the Miraflores presidential palace for enactment and would take effect […]
- SOUTHCOM chief and senior Pentagon official visit Venezuela, meet interim government
on February 19, 2026U.S. Southern Command chief Gen. Francis L. Donovan and Pentagon official Joseph M. Humire made an unannounced trip to Caracas on Wednesday and met Venezuela’s interim authorities, signaling continued operational engagement between Washington and the government led by Delcy Rodríguez.
- Trump says he will visit Venezuela, praises Delcy Rodríguez as U.S. expands oil licences
on February 14, 2026U.S. President Donald Trump said on Friday he plans to travel to Venezuela, while acknowledging that no date has been set. “I’m going to make a visit to Venezuela,” he told reporters at the White House.
- US lifts key curbs on Venezuelan oil, clearing Repsol and other majors to operate
on February 13, 2026Washington has issued new authorizations that allow oil-and-gas-related transactions in Venezuela for companies including BP, Chevron, Eni, Repsol and Shell, in a shift that could unlock stalled projects and settle payments previously constrained by US sanctions.
- Financial Times: Venezuelans turn more optimistic after Maduro’s capture
on February 13, 2026A face-to-face poll reported by the Financial Times points to a sharp swing in public mood in Venezuela following the US military intervention and the capture of former president Nicolás Maduro. The paper said Venezuelans are “much more optimistic about the future”, while the same findings also show heightened concern over security.
- US signals easing of energy restrictions after energy secretary’s Caracas visit
on February 12, 2026Venezuela’s acting President and Oil Minister Delcy Rodríguez met on Wednesday at Miraflores Palace with US Energy Secretary Chris Wright to discuss what the Venezuelan government described as “an energy agenda that benefits both nations,” as bilateral contacts continue to reopen.
- Venezuela reopens airspace as flight links restart after months of disruption
on February 12, 2026Venezuela said it has reopened its commercial airspace after restrictions that had disrupted international routes since late 2025, a shift that airlines are beginning to translate into a phased return of flights to and from Caracas.
- Families of political prisoners protest outside Venezuela’s National Assembly, question amnesty bill
on February 10, 2026Families of political prisoners and activists gathered on Tuesday outside Venezuela’s National Assembly in central Caracas, calling for the release of detainees who remain behind bars and challenging the scope of a government-backed amnesty bill.
