{"id":9005,"date":"2026-01-08T20:30:29","date_gmt":"2026-01-08T20:30:29","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/wpinitiate.com\/echo-test\/demo973e36f5\/2026\/01\/08\/trump-administration-reveals-plans-for-venezuela-and-oil-cnn\/"},"modified":"2026-01-08T20:30:29","modified_gmt":"2026-01-08T20:30:29","slug":"trump-administration-reveals-plans-for-venezuela-and-oil-cnn","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/wpinitiate.com\/echo-test\/demo973e36f5\/2026\/01\/08\/trump-administration-reveals-plans-for-venezuela-and-oil-cnn\/","title":{"rendered":"Trump administration reveals plans for Venezuela and oil – CNN"},"content":{"rendered":"
\n
\n
\n

Live Updates<\/p>\n

Senate moves to check Trump\u2019s war powers as Venezuela makes announcement on political prisoners <\/h2>\n<\/p><\/div>\n
The first official death toll was reported by a Venezuelan official days after the US attacked Caracas. Journalist Mary Mena reports.<\/p>\n

” data-duration=”01:27″ data-source-html=” \u2022 Source: CNN<\/a> <\/span>” data-fave-thumbnails=”{“big”: { “uri”: “https:\/\/media.cnn.com\/api\/v1\/images\/stellar\/prod\/116245-venezuelastrikedeathtollmarymena-digvid-1.jpg?c=16×9&q=h_540,w_960,c_fill” }, “small”: { “uri”: “https:\/\/media.cnn.com\/api\/v1\/images\/stellar\/prod\/116245-venezuelastrikedeathtollmarymena-digvid-1.jpg?c=16×9&q=h_540,w_960,c_fill” } }” data-vr-video=”false” data-show-html=”” data-byline-html=”<\/p>\n

\n
<\/div>\n
Mary Mena <\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n

” data-timestamp-html=”<\/p>\n

Updated 3:19 PM EST, Thu January 8, 2026 <\/div>\n

” data-check-event-based-preview data-is-vertical-video-embed=”false” data-network-id data-publish-date=”2026-01-08T08:46:03.630Z” data-video-section=”world” data-canonical-url=”https:\/\/www.cnn.com\/2026\/01\/08\/world\/video\/venezuela-attack-death-toll-official-diosdado-cabello-mary-mena-digvid” data-branding-key data-video-slug=”venezuela-attack-death-toll-official-diosdado-cabello-mary-mena-digvid” data-first-publish-slug=”venezuela-attack-death-toll-official-diosdado-cabello-mary-mena-digvid” data-video-tags data-breakpoints=”{“video-resource–media-extra-large”: 660}” data-display-video-cover=”true” data-details data-track-zone=”live-story-lede” data-sticky-anchor-pos=”bottom”> <\/p>\n

The first official death toll was reported by a Venezuelan official days after the US attacked Caracas. Journalist Mary Mena reports.<\/p>\n

” data-check-event-based-preview data-network-id data-publish-date=”2026-01-08T08:46:03.630Z” data-video-section=”world” data-canonical-url=”https:\/\/www.cnn.com\/2026\/01\/08\/world\/video\/venezuela-attack-death-toll-official-diosdado-cabello-mary-mena-digvid” data-branding-key data-video-slug=”venezuela-attack-death-toll-official-diosdado-cabello-mary-mena-digvid” data-first-publish-slug=”venezuela-attack-death-toll-official-diosdado-cabello-mary-mena-digvid” data-video-tags> \"116245_VenezuelastrikedeathtollMaryMena<\/picture> <\/div>\n

\n

At least 100 dead in US attack: Venezuelan official <\/p>\n

01:27 <\/span> \u2022 Source: CNN<\/a> <\/span> <\/p>\n<\/p><\/div>\n

\n
\n

At least 100 dead in US attack: Venezuelan official<\/p>\n<\/p><\/div>\n

01:27 <\/span> <\/p>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/section>\n

\n
\n
\n
\n
\n
\n

\u2022 Limiting Trump\u2019s war powers: <\/strong>A handful of Republicans joined Democrats to advance a resolution limiting future US military force in Venezuela<\/a> without congressional approval. The final resolution is not guaranteed to pass, but today\u2019s vote deals a symbolic rebuke to President Donald Trump. <\/p>\n

\u2022 US oversight in Venezuela: <\/strong>Trump has declined to say specifically how long the US aims to control the country, but when asked by The New York Times<\/a> yesterday if it would be months, a year or longer, he replied, \u201cI would say much longer.\u201d Sigue nuestra <\/em>cobertura en espa\u00f1ol.<\/em><\/a> <\/p>\n

\u2022 Prisoner release: <\/strong>The Venezuelan government says it will release a \u201csignificant number\u201d of political prisoners, both Venezuelan and foreign. Releasing prisoners has been a key US demand<\/a>, a source previously told CNN. <\/p>\n

\u2022 The latest from Caracas:<\/strong> Acting President Delcy Rodr\u00edguez said yesterday that Venezuela \u201cis not at war\u201d<\/a> and welcomed new energy ties<\/a> with the US. Caracas experienced another night of silence<\/a> and empty streets amid uncertainty about what comes next. <\/p>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n

\n
\n
\n
\"US<\/picture> <\/div>\n

Vice President JD Vance said he\u2019s \u201cnot concerned at all\u201d after several GOP senators on Thursday voted to advance a resolution<\/a> that would limit executive war powers in Venezuela without congressional approval. <\/p>\n

Senators were able to force a vote under the 1973 War Powers Act, after the US military operation in Venezuela and capture<\/a> of then-Venezuelan President Nicol\u00e1s Maduro. Five Republicans voted with Democrats for the measure, which will push the Senate on a future vote in an effort to limit the president\u2019s powers in the deepening conflict with Venezuela. <\/p>\n

Vance went on to claim that every \u201cpresident, Democrat or Republican, believes the War Powers Act is fundamentally a fake and unconstitutional law,\u201d a sentiment he says President Donald Trump agrees with. <\/p>\n

\u201cIt\u2019s not going to change anything about how we conduct foreign policy over the next couple of weeks, the next couple of months, and that will continue to be how we approach things go,\u201d Vance added. <\/p>\n<\/p><\/div>\n

\n
\n

European leaders should be taking President Donald Trump seriously when it comes to his renewed interest in Greenland, Vice President JD Vance said today. <\/p>\n

Asked by reporters at the White House what his message would be to European leaders who reject the idea that the Arctic territory<\/a> ruled by Denmark is for sale, Vance said they should take Trump at his word. <\/p>\n

\u201cSo what we\u2019re asking our European friends to do is to take the security of that landmass more seriously, because if they\u2019re not, the United States is going to have to do something about it,\u201d Vance said. <\/p>\n

What that \u201csomething\u201d may be, the vice president said he would leave that up to Trump. The White House said in a statement Tuesday that using the military to acquire Greenland is an option. <\/p>\n

Vance said Trump has argued Greenland is important to both the US and world\u2019s defense and that \u201chostile adversaries\u201d have show interest in the territory. <\/p>\n

Secretary of State Marco Rubio is expected to meet with the leaders of Denmark and Greenland soon, Vance said, and he said the US will continue to \u201cengage in diplomacy\u201d with European leaders. <\/p>\n<\/p><\/div>\n

\n
\n
\"Vice<\/picture> <\/div>\n

Vice President JD Vance on Thursday insisted he was involved in the planning for the US operation to depose Nicolas Maduro. <\/p>\n

Vance went on to defend the operation and the way it was planned. \u201cLook, we\u2019re all part of the same team, and one of the things that is really amazing about that operation is that we kept it very tight to the senior Cabinet-level officials and related officials in our government, and we kept this operation secret for a very long time. I\u2019m very proud of that,\u201d he added. <\/p>\n

The vice president seemed to be responding to a New Yorker piece earlier this week<\/a>, which noted Vance was not present in photos showing members of the president\u2019s national security team at Mar-a-Lago during the Venezuela operation. <\/p>\n

Reflecting on his role in the administration, Vance said he planned to do \u201cwhatever the president asks me to do.\u201d <\/p>\n

\u201cEvery other day, I\u2019m chairing the meeting that we do among White House principals to talk about next steps to try to ensure that Venezuela is stable, and as the president has directed us to do, to ensure that the new Venezuelan government actually listens to the United States and does what the United States needs it to do under our country\u2019s best interest,\u201d he said. <\/p>\n

\u201cSo, I\u2019m going to be as involved as the president wants me to be \u2014 so far that\u2019s been very involved, and I\u2019ll keep on doing that, so long as the president asks me to do it.\u201d <\/p>\n<\/p><\/div>\n

\n
\n

Top Senate Democrats are pushing the chamber to swiftly pass a resolution to block military action in Venezuela next week, after the measure advanced today. <\/p>\n

The Senate voted 52-47<\/a> to consider the resolution on the Senate floor, with five Republican senators joining Democrats. <\/p>\n

With the January 30 government funding deadline<\/a> bearing down on Congress, Senate Majority Leader John Thune has been clear that he wants to take next week to process appropriations bills in the Senate, rather than consider the war powers resolution. <\/p>\n

However, Schumer said he is \u201cabsolutely\u201d confident they can deal with both issues next week. \u201cWe will work with Sen. Kaine so we can do both,\u201d he said. <\/p>\n

Democratic Sen. Tim Kaine of Virginia, a cosponsor of the war powers resolution, noted that there will be an open amendment process, which could take more time, but argued that in the past both sides have been able to agree on a smaller slate of amendments to consider. <\/p>\n

\u201cI don\u2019t think my colleagues on the other side thought it was going to pass. So I\u2019m not sure that they\u2019ve really thought that that through,\u201d he added. <\/p>\n<\/p><\/div>\n

\n
\n

The Spanish Foreign Ministry confirmed Thursday that five Spaniards had been freed in Venezuela\u2019s announced prisoner release. <\/p>\n

One of the five has dual citizenship, the ministry said in a statement, and all are preparing to fly to Spain with embassy assistance. <\/p>\n

Spanish Foreign Minister Jos\u00e9 Manuel Albares later identified the five in an interview with Radio Nacional de Espa\u00f1a as Roc\u00edo San Miguel, Andr\u00e9s Mart\u00ednez, Jos\u00e9 Mar\u00eda Basoa, Miguel Moreno and Ernesto Gorbe. <\/p>\n

San Miguel, a security analyst and activist who was arrested in February 2024. The Venezuelan government had accused her, without evidence, of being part of a plot<\/a> to kill President Nicol\u00e1s Maduro. US officials had previously expressed concern over her case. <\/p>\n

Albares h\ufeffad earlier said that the release would likely include Spaniards, telling Spanish Public Broadcaster La 2 that freeing Spanish prisoners would be \u201ca very positive step by the new acting president, Delcy Rodr\u00edguez, in this new stage that Venezuela is in.\u201d <\/p>\n<\/p><\/div>\n

\n
\n

The head of representation for Greenland Jacob Isbosethsen told reporters today that there are no plans to sell the territory to the United States after he and the Danish ambassador to the US met with senators. <\/p>\n

\u201cGreenland is not for sale,\u201d Isbosethsen said, speaking alongside Ambassador Jesper M\u00f8ller S\u00f8rensen, the Danish ambassador to the US, as well as GOP Sen. Roger Wicker and Democratic Sen. Jeanne Shaheen. <\/p>\n

\u201cI think the core of what we have discussed is that we have ample opportunities to strengthen our relationship within the existing structures, and we intend to work on that,\u201d Ambassador M\u00f8ller S\u00f8rensen said, reiterating the country\u2019s stance on the matter amid President Donald Trump\u2019s renewed interest in acquiring the arctic territory<\/a>. <\/p>\n

Wicker, the GOP chair of the Senate Armed Services committee, said it was Denmark\u2019s \u201cprerogative and right\u201d to decline talks over the sale of the semiautonomous territory. He argued the US should focus on other \u201cgreat opportunities\u201d to enhance the country\u2019s relationship with Denmark and Greenland. <\/p>\n

He added later, \u201cI think there are wonderful opportunities with the critical minerals, with the challenges we have in the Arctic, and I think going forward we can answer a lot of the desires of Americans for better security in that way.\u201d <\/p>\n<\/p><\/div>\n

\n
\n

People in Greenland are worried about Donald Trump\u2019s threats to take control of the semiautonomous <\/strong>territory. <\/p>\n

The emboldened US president has turned his sights to Greenland in recent comments following his intervention in Venezuela, and top US officials are set to meet Danish ministers next week. <\/p>\n

CNN\u2019s Nic Robertson reports from the Greenlandic capital of Nuuk: <\/p>\n

People in Greenland are worried about President Trump\u2019s threats to take control of the semiautonomous <\/strong>territory after a recently emboldened White House are set to meet Danish ministers next week. CNN\u2019s Nic Robertson reports from Nuuk. <\/p>\n

” data-duration=”01:45″ data-source-html=” \u2022 Source: CNN<\/a> <\/span>” data-fave-thumbnails=”{“big”: { “uri”: “https:\/\/media.cnn.com\/api\/v1\/images\/stellar\/videothumbnails\/93890195-40059921-generated-thumbnail.jpg?c=16×9&q=h_540,w_960,c_fill” }, “small”: { “uri”: “https:\/\/media.cnn.com\/api\/v1\/images\/stellar\/videothumbnails\/93890195-40059921-generated-thumbnail.jpg?c=16×9&q=h_540,w_960,c_fill” } }” data-vr-video=”false” data-show-html=”” data-byline-html=”<\/p>\n

<\/div>\n

” data-timestamp-html=”<\/p>\n

Updated 3:19 PM EST, Thu January 8, 2026 <\/div>\n

” data-check-event-based-preview data-is-vertical-video-embed=”false” data-network-id data-publish-date=”2026-01-08T17:34:50.506Z” data-video-section=”world” data-canonical-url=”https:\/\/www.cnn.com\/2026\/01\/08\/world\/video\/greenland-under-pressure-trump-intldsk” data-branding-key data-video-slug=”greenland-under-pressure-trump-intldsk” data-first-publish-slug=”greenland-under-pressure-trump-intldsk” data-video-tags data-breakpoints=”{“video-resource–media-extra-large”: 660}” data-display-video-cover=”true” data-details> <\/p>\n

People in Greenland are worried about President Trump\u2019s threats to take control of the semiautonomous <\/strong>territory after a recently emboldened White House are set to meet Danish ministers next week. CNN\u2019s Nic Robertson reports from Nuuk. <\/p>\n

” data-check-event-based-preview data-network-id data-publish-date=”2026-01-08T17:34:50.506Z” data-video-section=”world” data-canonical-url=”https:\/\/www.cnn.com\/2026\/01\/08\/world\/video\/greenland-under-pressure-trump-intldsk” data-branding-key data-video-slug=”greenland-under-pressure-trump-intldsk” data-first-publish-slug=”greenland-under-pressure-trump-intldsk” data-video-tags> \"\n\n<pPeople in Greenland are worried about President Trump\u2019s threats to take control of the semiautonomous <\/strong>territory after a recently emboldened White House are set to meet Danish ministers next week. CNN\u2019s Nic Robertson reports from Nuuk. <\/p>\n

” onload=”this.classList.remove(‘image__dam-img–loading’)” onerror=”imageLoadError(this)” height=”1080″ width=”1920″><\/picture> <\/div>\n

\n

Greenland faces pressure from President Trump <\/p>\n

01:45 <\/span> \u2022 Source: CNN<\/a> <\/span> <\/p>\n<\/p><\/div>\n

\n
\n

Greenland faces pressure from President Trump<\/p>\n<\/p><\/div>\n

01:45 <\/span> <\/p>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n

\n
\n

President Donald Trump on Thursday sharply criticized a small group of Republican senators who voted to advance a resolution that would limit future US military action in Venezuela without congressional approval, calling on voters to \u201cNEVER\u201d reelect them. <\/p>\n

\u201cRepublicans should be ashamed of the Senators that just voted with Democrats in attempting to take away our Powers to fight and defend the United States of America,\u201d Trump said in a Truth Social post. He named Sens. Susan Collins, Lisa Murkowski, Rand Paul, Josh Hawley and Todd Young, adding they \u201cshould never be elected to office again.\u201d <\/p>\n

Trump argued the vote undermines national security and presidential authority. <\/p>\n

He also denounced the War Powers Act, calling it \u201cUnconstitutional, totally violating Article II of the Constitution,\u201d while noting that \u201ca more important Senate Vote will be taking place next week on this very subject,.\u201d <\/p>\n

Trump\u2019s comment comes after the group of Senate Republicans joined all Democrats to advance the resolution, delivering a notable rebuke to Trump just days after a US operation that ousted Venezuela\u2019s leader. The procedural vote sets up a future Senate showdown over the president\u2019s authority to deploy military force in the escalating situation involving Venezuela, a move that surprised even some Democrats who had been uncertain of how Republican votes would fall. <\/p>\n<\/p><\/div>\n

\n
\n

Spain\u2019s foreign minister said Thursday that Venezuela\u2019s announced prisoner release will likely include Spaniards. <\/p>\n

Spanish Foreign Minister Jos\u00e9 Manuel Albares recently confirmed in an interview on the Spanish Public Broadcaster La 2 that \u201ceverything points\u201d to the release including Spanish citizens. <\/p>\n

\u201cIt will be a very positive step by the new acting president, Delcy Rodr\u00edguez, in this new stage that Venezuela is in,\u201d Albares said. <\/p>\n

CNN has asked Spain\u2019s foreign ministry for the number of Spanish prisoners it believes will be freed. <\/p>\n<\/p><\/div>\n

\n
\n

Jorge Rodr\u00edguez, president of Venezuela\u2019s National Assembly, said Thursday that the government has decided to release \u201ca significant number\u201d of political prisoners, both Venezuelan and foreign, in order to \u201ccontribute to the effort\u201d of \u201cnational unity.\u201d <\/p>\n

He indicated that this release was a \u201cgesture by the government\u2026 with a broad intention to seek peace.\u201d <\/p>\n

\ufeffMembers of the Trump administration have told US lawmakers they have made clear to Venezuela that it must release political prisoners, among other demands, according to a source familiar<\/a> with the US administration\u2019s briefing with key lawmakers this week. <\/p>\n

Days before the US captured Maduro, a US official told CNN<\/a> that Venezuelan security forces had detained at least five Americans in recent months. <\/p>\n

At the time, the official told CNN that the Trump administration believed that the Americans had been detained as leverage. The individual cases of each detainee varied, and some may have been involved in drug smuggling, the official added. <\/p>\n

It is unclear whether any of the five referenced by the official will be among those released. <\/p>\n

CNN\u2019s Alayna Treene, Kristen Holmes and Jennifer Hansler contributed. <\/em> <\/p>\n<\/p><\/div>\n

\n
\n

A small bloc of Senate Republicans has delivered a notable rebuke of President Donald Trump<\/a> just days after his operation ousting and seizing Venezuela\u2019s leader, voting to advance a resolution that would limit future US military force in the nation without Congress\u2019 approval. <\/p>\n

Five Republicans on Thursday voted with all Senate Democrats to allow a future vote that would limit the president\u2019s powers in the deepening conflict with Venezuela \u2014 a move that surprised even some Democrats who had not been certain how the GOP votes would fall. <\/p>\n

The full measure is expected to pass next week, which would require 51 votes in the Senate. The measure, though, will still need to withstand a full amendment process and support for the final resolution is not guaranteed. <\/p>\n

The vote in the Senate had been considered mostly a messaging exercise by Democrats and Kentucky GOP Sen. Rand Paul, a co-sponsor of the measure, to force their GOP counterparts to register their discontent over \u2013 or support of \u2013 an increasingly emboldened White House. But now that it has won over enough Republican votes, it becomes a much more real threat to the reach of Trump\u2019s power. <\/p>\n

Read more on the vote here.<\/strong><\/a> <\/p>\n<\/p><\/div>\n

\n
\n

Mexican President Claudia Sheinbaum said Thursday that her country does not seek confrontation with the United States, emphasizing that she has a good relationship with US President Donald Trump\u2019s government. <\/p>\n

The Mexican government has \u201ca great relationship with US Northern Command, with US agencies, with the US embassy in Mexico itself, with people in the US who are involved in security cooperation,\u201d Sheinbaum said during her morning press conference. <\/p>\n

She added that while there is \u201ccooperation and coordination\u201d with the Trump administration, Mexican officials are clear about the principles of \u201cdefending our sovereignty and our territory.\u201d <\/p>\n

Trump has often accused Mexico of shirking its responsibility to control the flow of illegal drugs into the United States. <\/p>\n

On Sunday, Trump claimed<\/a> that drugs were \u201cpouring\u201d through Mexico and that \u201cwe\u2019re going to have to do something.\u201d <\/p>\n

CNN\u2019s Tim Lister contributed reporting.<\/em> <\/p>\n<\/p><\/div>\n

\n
\n

The Senate is voting now on a resolution to limit President Donald Trump\u2019s war powers in Venezuela<\/a>. <\/p>\n

Sen. Adam Schiff told CNN a short time ago that Democrats needed just one more vote to pass the resolution. <\/p>\n

\u201cWe just need one more. We just need four Republicans, and we can pass this in the Senate. And that will make a very powerful statement,\u201d Schiff told CNN\u2019s Wolf Blitzer. <\/p>\n

The senator from California also emphasized the importance of Congress exercising this particular authority over the executive branch. <\/p>\n

\u201cNevertheless, if we don\u2019t exercise this power under these circumstances, then if we see further, further military intervention in Colombia or Mexico or Greenland or Iran or Nigeria or anywhere else, the Congress will have only itself to blame for letting this power given to us by the founders atrophy to the point of complete nonuse.\u201d <\/p>\n

Remember: <\/strong>The resolution is sponsored by Democratic Sen. Tim Kaine of Virginia and GOP Sen. Rand Paul of Kentucky. <\/strong>While the measure is unlikely to pass the House, or win enough support for a veto-proof majority, a successful vote in the Senate would amount to a symbolic rebuke of Trump\u2019s handling of the conflict in Venezuela and the capture of Nicol\u00e1s Maduro and his wife last weekend. <\/p>\n

CNN\u2019s Manu Raju contributed to this report. <\/em> <\/p>\n<\/p><\/div>\n

\n
\n
Colombian Foreign Minister Rosa Yolanda Villavicencio Mapy said Thursday that the call between Colombian President Gustavo Petro and US President Donald Trump was a “very respectful dialogue.”<\/p>\n

” data-duration=”00:37″ data-source-html=” \u2022 Source: CNN<\/a> <\/span>” data-fave-thumbnails=”{“big”: { “uri”: “https:\/\/media.cnn.com\/api\/v1\/images\/stellar\/prod\/gettyimages-2235768251.jpg?c=16×9&q=h_540,w_960,c_fill” }, “small”: { “uri”: “https:\/\/media.cnn.com\/api\/v1\/images\/stellar\/prod\/gettyimages-2235768251.jpg?c=16×9&q=h_540,w_960,c_fill” } }” data-vr-video=”false” data-show-html=”” data-byline-html=”<\/p>\n

\n
<\/div>\n
By Jennifer Hauser<\/span>, CNN <\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n

” data-timestamp-html=”<\/p>\n

Updated 3:19 PM EST, Thu January 8, 2026 <\/div>\n

” data-check-event-based-preview data-is-vertical-video-embed=”false” data-network-id data-publish-date=”2026-01-08T19:04:16.762Z” data-video-section=”world” data-canonical-url data-branding-key data-video-slug=”villavicencio-colombia-foreign-minister-petro-trump-call-latam-intl” data-first-publish-slug=”villavicencio-colombia-foreign-minister-petro-trump-call-latam-intl” data-video-tags data-breakpoints=”{“video-resource–media-extra-large”: 660}” data-display-video-cover=”true” data-details> <\/p>\n

Colombian Foreign Minister Rosa Yolanda Villavicencio Mapy said Thursday that the call between Colombian President Gustavo Petro and US President Donald Trump was a “very respectful dialogue.”<\/p>\n

” data-check-event-based-preview data-network-id data-publish-date=”2026-01-08T19:04:16.762Z” data-video-section=”world” data-canonical-url data-branding-key data-video-slug=”villavicencio-colombia-foreign-minister-petro-trump-call-latam-intl” data-first-publish-slug=”villavicencio-colombia-foreign-minister-petro-trump-call-latam-intl” data-video-tags> \"Colombia's<\/picture> <\/div>\n

\n

Colombia’s foreign minister says Petro’s call with Trump is a ‘starting point’ <\/p>\n

00:37 <\/span> \u2022 Source: CNN<\/a> <\/span> <\/p>\n<\/p><\/div>\n

\n
\n

Colombia’s foreign minister says Petro’s call with Trump is a ‘starting point’<\/p>\n<\/p><\/div>\n

00:37 <\/span> <\/p>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n

Colombian President Gustavo Petro had a phone conversation with Venezuelan acting President Delcy Rodriguez this week and invited her to visit Bogota, according to a source with knowledge of the call. <\/p>\n

There\u2019s still no set date for the visit, but the source, who asked to speak anonymously because they were not allowed to discuss diplomatic conversations with the press, insisted it could take place in the next few weeks, either in the Colombian capital or another location closer to the Colombia-Venezuela border. <\/p>\n

The official visit would be Rodriguez\u2019s first trip as Venezuela\u2019s acting head of state and a sign of confidence from one of her country\u2019s top trading and diplomatic partners. <\/p>\n<\/p><\/div>\n

\n
\n
\"Colombian<\/picture> <\/div>\n

Colombian Foreign Minister Rosa Villavicencio said yesterday\u2019s call<\/a> between President Gustavo Petro and US President Donald Trump \u201cwas a very respectful dialogue,\u201d and emphasized that it is a starting point for the normalization of diplomatic relations between the two countries. <\/p>\n

The phone call took place after Trump threatened possible actions against Colombia, following the US capture of deposed Venezuelan leader<\/a> Nicol\u00e1s Maduro. <\/p>\n

The foreign minister said at a news conference today that this is a \u201cvery complex moment\u201d that \u201cwe have not experienced in decades,\u201d but stressed the goal of reestablishing a constructive and equal dialogue with Washington. <\/p>\n

Yesterday, Trump said, \u201cIt was a great honor to speak\u201d with Petro and said, \u201cI appreciate his call and tone,\u201d according to posts on social media. <\/p>\n

The foriegn minister confirmed that Bogot\u00e1 invited Venezuela\u2019s interim President Delcy Rodr\u00edguez, for a visit. \u201cShe has not yet responded, but the invitation has been made. Just as President Trump was invited a few weeks ago,\u201d she said. <\/p>\n

Villavicencio stated that the foreign ministry will seek to develop a working agenda with US Secretary of State Marco Rubio. <\/p>\n

Read more about the diplomatic relations between the US and Colombia and follow our <\/em>live coverage in Spanish here<\/em><\/a>. <\/em> <\/p>\n<\/p><\/div>\n

\n
\n
Daylight Thursday morning showed Venezuelans seeming to regain some normalcy in their routines, but nighttime remains an empty scene, especially on the streets of Caracas, where tension and uncertainty are palpable as the sun begins to set.<\/p>\n

” data-duration=”01:19″ data-source-html=” \u2022 Source: CNN<\/a> <\/span>” data-fave-thumbnails=”{“big”: { “uri”: “https:\/\/media.cnn.com\/api\/v1\/images\/stellar\/prod\/ven2.jpg?c=16×9&q=h_540,w_960,c_fill” }, “small”: { “uri”: “https:\/\/media.cnn.com\/api\/v1\/images\/stellar\/prod\/ven2.jpg?c=16×9&q=h_540,w_960,c_fill” } }” data-vr-video=”false” data-show-html=”” data-byline-html=”<\/p>\n

\n
<\/div>\n
By Jennifer Hauser<\/span>, CNN <\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n

” data-timestamp-html=”<\/p>\n

Updated 3:19 PM EST, Thu January 8, 2026 <\/div>\n

” data-check-event-based-preview data-is-vertical-video-embed=”false” data-network-id data-publish-date=”2026-01-08T16:41:56.862Z” data-video-section=”world” data-canonical-url data-branding-key data-video-slug=”venezuela-caracas-streets-residents-life-latam-intl” data-first-publish-slug=”venezuela-caracas-streets-residents-life-latam-intl” data-video-tags data-breakpoints=”{“video-resource–media-extra-large”: 660}” data-display-video-cover=”true” data-details> <\/p>\n

Daylight Thursday morning showed Venezuelans seeming to regain some normalcy in their routines, but nighttime remains an empty scene, especially on the streets of Caracas, where tension and uncertainty are palpable as the sun begins to set.<\/p>\n

” data-check-event-based-preview data-network-id data-publish-date=”2026-01-08T16:41:56.862Z” data-video-section=”world” data-canonical-url data-branding-key data-video-slug=”venezuela-caracas-streets-residents-life-latam-intl” data-first-publish-slug=”venezuela-caracas-streets-residents-life-latam-intl” data-video-tags> \"ven2.jpg\"<\/picture> <\/div>\n

\n

Life on the streets of Caracas, Venezuela <\/p>\n

01:19 <\/span> \u2022 Source: CNN<\/a> <\/span> <\/p>\n<\/p><\/div>\n

\n
\n

Life on the streets of Caracas, Venezuela<\/p>\n<\/p><\/div>\n

01:19 <\/span> <\/p>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n

Although in daylight Venezuelans seem to be regaining some normalcy in their routines, nighttime remains an empty scene, especially on the streets of Caracas, where tension and uncertainty are palpable as the sun begins to set. <\/p>\n

The main roads have little vehicle traffic compared to what nights were like before Saturday, when the United States attacked the capital and captured Nicol\u00e1s Maduro in a surprise military operation. <\/p>\n

Only a few businesses remain open after sunset and there are hardly any pedestrians. People stay sheltered in their homes, while the presence of armed security personnel increases. <\/p>\n

Silence prevails at least until dawn, when Caracas residents resume their daily functions and the Venezuelan capital returns to a circulation more similar to usual. <\/p>\n

Read more about what\u2019s happening on the ground in Venezuela and follow our <\/em>live coverage in Spanish here<\/em><\/a>. <\/em> <\/p>\n<\/p><\/div>\n

\n
\n
\"The<\/picture> <\/div>\n

For many Greenlanders, the Trump administration\u2019s repeated comments stating desire to take over the territory represent a \u201ctotal show of disrespect,\u201d according to Greenlandic filmmaker Inuk Silis H\u00f8egh. <\/p>\n

Over the last few days, Trump has reiterated his designs on Greenland in the wake of his administration\u2019s stunning move to remove Venezuela\u2019s leader<\/a> from power. <\/p>\n

\u201cPeople are a bit worried, but immediately on social media \u2026 there were a lot of people posting our flag and standing firm,\u201d H\u00f8egh told CNN of the Greenlandic reaction to Trump\u2019s remarks. <\/p>\n

When the Trump administration turned its attention to Greenland \u2014 the vast autonomous Arctic territory ruled by Denmark \u2014 last year, it prompted \u201cone of the biggest demonstrations\u201d against the US approach, H\u00f8egh said. <\/p>\n

Similarly, Christian Keldsen, CEO of the Greenland Business Association, said the issue is \u201cin the background for us\u201d but it \u201cis irritating people because it\u2019s unnecessary.\u201d <\/p>\n

Both H\u00f8egh and Keldsen underlined the close economic and strategic relationship which already exists between Greenland and the US, allowing American investment and military bases on the territory. <\/p>\n

The issue strikes right at the heart of Greenland\u2019s politics, which have long been shaped by Denmark\u2019s colonial legacy and questions about the territory\u2019s future independence. <\/p>\n<\/p><\/div>\n

\n
\n

The largest oil reserves of any country on the planet, more than 300 billion barrels,<\/a> are estimated to lie beneath the ground in Venezuela. <\/p>\n

See how the country\u2019s oil infrastructure is mapped out below: <\/p>\n<\/p><\/div>\n

\n
\n

CNN\u2019s Manu Raju reports on the response from some House Republicans to a statement from the White House Tuesday that using the military to acquire Greenland is an option. <\/p>\n

House Republicans react to a statement from the White House that said using the military to acquire Greenland is an option. CNN’s Manu Raju reports.<\/p>\n

Stellar Slug: house-republicans-grapple-with-trumps-greenland-threat-digvid-vrtc<\/p>\n

” data-duration=”01:45″ data-source-html=” \u2022 Source: CNN<\/a> <\/span>” data-fave-thumbnails=”{“big”: { “uri”: “https:\/\/media.cnn.com\/api\/v1\/images\/stellar\/prod\/116219-trumpgreenlandplans-vrtc-thumbcl.jpg?c=9×16” }, “small”: { “uri”: “https:\/\/media.cnn.com\/api\/v1\/images\/stellar\/prod\/116219-trumpgreenlandplans-vrtc-thumbcl.jpg?c=9×16″ } }” data-vr-video=”false” data-show-html=”” data-byline-html=”<\/p>\n

\n
\"Manu <\/a> <\/div>\n
By Manu Raju<\/span><\/a>, CNN <\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n

” data-timestamp-html=”<\/p>\n

Updated 3:19 PM EST, Thu January 8, 2026 <\/div>\n

” data-check-event-based-preview data-is-vertical-video-embed=”false” data-network-id data-publish-date=”2026-01-07T22:51:33.057Z” data-video-section=”politics” data-canonical-url=”https:\/\/www.cnn.com\/2026\/01\/07\/politics\/video\/house-republicans-grapple-with-trumps-greenland-threat-digvid-vrtc” data-branding-key data-video-slug=”house-republicans-grapple-with-trumps-greenland-threat-digvid-vrtc” data-first-publish-slug=”house-republicans-grapple-with-trumps-greenland-threat-digvid-vrtc” data-video-tags=”cnn” data-breakpoints=”{“video-resource–media-extra-large”: 660}” data-display-video-cover=”true” data-vertical-orientation=”true” data-details> <\/p>\n

House Republicans react to a statement from the White House that said using the military to acquire Greenland is an option. CNN’s Manu Raju reports.<\/p>\n

Stellar Slug: house-republicans-grapple-with-trumps-greenland-threat-digvid-vrtc<\/p>\n

” data-check-event-based-preview data-network-id data-publish-date=”2026-01-07T22:51:33.057Z” data-video-section=”politics” data-canonical-url=”https:\/\/www.cnn.com\/2026\/01\/07\/politics\/video\/house-republicans-grapple-with-trumps-greenland-threat-digvid-vrtc” data-branding-key data-video-slug=”house-republicans-grapple-with-trumps-greenland-threat-digvid-vrtc” data-first-publish-slug=”house-republicans-grapple-with-trumps-greenland-threat-digvid-vrtc” data-video-tags=”cnn”> \"116219_TrumpGreenlandPlans_vrtc_thumbcl.jpg\"<\/picture> <\/div>\n

\n

House Republicans grapple with Trump’s Greenland threat <\/p>\n

\n

House Republicans react to a statement from the White House that said using the military to acquire Greenland is an option. CNN’s Manu Raju reports.<\/p>\n

Stellar Slug: house-republicans-grapple-with-trumps-greenland-threat-digvid-vrtc<\/p>\n<\/div>\n

01:45 <\/span> \u2022 Source: CNN<\/a> <\/span> <\/p>\n<\/p><\/div>\n

\n
\n

House Republicans grapple with Trump’s Greenland threat<\/p>\n<\/p><\/div>\n

01:45 <\/span> <\/p>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n

\n
\n
While the Trump administration insists the US will run Venezuela, it’s not that simple. Many of President Nicol\u00e1s Maduro’s loyalists are still in positions of power. CNN’s Rafael Romo reports.<\/p>\n

” data-duration=”03:01″ data-source-html=” \u2022 Source: CNN<\/a> <\/span>” data-fave-thumbnails=”{“big”: { “uri”: “https:\/\/media.cnn.com\/api\/v1\/images\/stellar\/prod\/gettyimages-2192510565.jpg?c=16×9&q=h_540,w_960,c_fill” }, “small”: { “uri”: “https:\/\/media.cnn.com\/api\/v1\/images\/stellar\/prod\/gettyimages-2192510565.jpg?c=16×9&q=h_540,w_960,c_fill” } }” data-vr-video=”false” data-show-html=”” data-byline-html=”<\/p>\n

\n
<\/div>\n
By Jennifer Hauser<\/span>, CNN <\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n

” data-timestamp-html=”<\/p>\n

Updated 3:19 PM EST, Thu January 8, 2026 <\/div>\n

” data-check-event-based-preview data-is-vertical-video-embed=”false” data-network-id data-publish-date=”2026-01-07T20:08:59.883Z” data-video-section=”world” data-canonical-url=”https:\/\/www.cnn.com\/2026\/01\/07\/world\/video\/venezuela-opposition-maduro-loyalists-paula-newton-pkg-latam-intl” data-branding-key data-video-slug=”venezuela-opposition-maduro-loyalists-paula-newton-pkg-latam-intl” data-first-publish-slug=”venezuela-opposition-maduro-loyalists-paula-newton-pkg-latam-intl” data-video-tags data-breakpoints=”{“video-resource–media-extra-large”: 660}” data-display-video-cover=”true” data-details> <\/p>\n

While the Trump administration insists the US will run Venezuela, it’s not that simple. Many of President Nicol\u00e1s Maduro’s loyalists are still in positions of power. CNN’s Rafael Romo reports.<\/p>\n

” data-check-event-based-preview data-network-id data-publish-date=”2026-01-07T20:08:59.883Z” data-video-section=”world” data-canonical-url=”https:\/\/www.cnn.com\/2026\/01\/07\/world\/video\/venezuela-opposition-maduro-loyalists-paula-newton-pkg-latam-intl” data-branding-key data-video-slug=”venezuela-opposition-maduro-loyalists-paula-newton-pkg-latam-intl” data-first-publish-slug=”venezuela-opposition-maduro-loyalists-paula-newton-pkg-latam-intl” data-video-tags> \"GettyImages-2192510565.jpg\"<\/picture> <\/div>\n

\n

What Venezuela’s political leadership could look like <\/p>\n

03:01 <\/span> \u2022 Source: CNN<\/a> <\/span> <\/p>\n<\/p><\/div>\n

\n
\n

What Venezuela’s political leadership could look like<\/p>\n<\/p><\/div>\n

03:01 <\/span> <\/p>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n

As tension continues in Venezuela and uncertainty about the country\u2019s future grows, opposition leader Mar\u00eda Corina Machado said that she considers the government of Delcy Rodr\u00edguez<\/a>, who was sworn in as interim president, to be \u201cabsolutely temporary.\u201d <\/p>\n

In an interview with the Venezuelan outlet La Patilla, Machado insisted the \u201ctransition is irreversible\u201d in Venezuela. <\/p>\n

Machado left Venezuela in December<\/a> after nearly a year in hiding and traveled to Oslo, where she was awarded the Nobel Peace Prize<\/a>. She maintained that Rodr\u00edguez\u2019s government is \u201ca phase before the transition advances\u201d and again stressed the need for the release of political prisoners as an essential step to achieving change in the country. <\/p>\n

After the capture of Nicol\u00e1s Maduro in a US military operation in Caracas last Saturday, US President Donald Trump was asked about Machado\u2019s possible role in the transition. Trump expressed doubts about whether she can govern the country, saying that \u201cshe does not have the support or respect of the people.\u201d <\/p>\n

Machado is no longer in Oslo, <\/a>but there is no public information about her current whereabouts. <\/p>\n<\/p><\/div>\n

\n
<\/div>\n<\/section>\n<\/section>\n<\/section>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

Live Updates Senate moves to check Trump\u2019s war powers as Venezuela makes announcement on political prisoners<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":9006,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[1],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-9005","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-uncategorized"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/wpinitiate.com\/echo-test\/demo973e36f5\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/9005","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/wpinitiate.com\/echo-test\/demo973e36f5\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/wpinitiate.com\/echo-test\/demo973e36f5\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/wpinitiate.com\/echo-test\/demo973e36f5\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/wpinitiate.com\/echo-test\/demo973e36f5\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=9005"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/wpinitiate.com\/echo-test\/demo973e36f5\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/9005\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/wpinitiate.com\/echo-test\/demo973e36f5\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/9006"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/wpinitiate.com\/echo-test\/demo973e36f5\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=9005"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/wpinitiate.com\/echo-test\/demo973e36f5\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=9005"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/wpinitiate.com\/echo-test\/demo973e36f5\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=9005"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}