United States Secretary of State Marco Rubio testified before the Senate Foreign Relations Committee on Wednesday, marking his first public appearance since the capture of Venezuelan leader Nicolás Maduro earlier this month. Rubio outlined the administration’s approach toward Venezuela, defended the operation that led to Maduro’s detention, and emphasized the strategic concerns the United States has regarding the region. His testimony came amid scrutiny from senators on both sides of the ai

United States Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent has accused European nations of indirectly financing Russia’s war in Ukraine by purchasing refined oil products originating from Russian crude processed in India. His remarks come amid ongoing geopolitical tensions over energy trade and sanctions linked to the conflict in Eastern Europe. In an interview aired on Sunday, Bessent alleged that while European leaders publicly condemn Russia’s actions in Ukraine, their trade practices ar

Venezuela’s interim president Delcy Rodríguez has accused the United States of using allegations related to drug trafficking, democracy, and human rights as a pretext to pursue control over the country’s vast oil resources. Speaking before the Venezuelan Parliament, Rodríguez said that external pressure on the country has long been driven by energy interests rather than genuine political or humanitarian concerns, while emphasizing that Caracas remains open to energy cooperation based on

United States Secretary of State Marco Rubio said on Wednesday that Washington holds significant leverage over Venezuela’s interim authorities and is preparing to execute a plan that would place control of the country’s oil exports firmly in US hands. Speaking to reporters on Capitol Hill, Rubio said the administration is finalising an arrangement to take possession of oil currently immobilised in Venezuela and sell it on global markets at full market prices. According to Rubio,

China on Wednesday strongly criticized reported United States demands aimed at reshaping Venezuela’s oil partnerships, calling the move an act of coercion that violates both national sovereignty and international law. Beijing’s response follows media reports that Washington has sought exclusive control over Venezuela’s oil sector as part of its political and economic engagement with the South American nation. Speaking at a regular press briefing, Chinese Foreign Ministry spoke

The United States has seized a Russia-flagged oil tanker in the North Atlantic, escalating enforcement of American sanctions and drawing attention to an unusual maritime confrontation involving Russian military assets. The vessel, originally known as Bella-1, was taken into custody on Wednesday following a coordinated operation by US civilian and military authorities acting under a federal court warrant. According to official statements, the seizure was carried out after the tanker

US military activity near Venezuela has intensified as the US Coast Guard moves to apprehend a third oil tanker operating in international waters, according to officials who confirmed the development on Sunday. The operation marks the second action of its kind during the weekend and the third within a week, highlighting an escalating enforcement strategy against oil tankers under sanctions. One official stated that the vessel involved is subject to restrictions linked to United States measure

Following the narrative established during the Trump administration, South Carolina Senator Lindsey Graham has drawn a connection between US tariffs, the ongoing Russia-Ukraine conflict, and India’s role in the global energy market. On Wednesday, Graham responded sharply to reports of a deadly Russian strike in Kyiv that killed at least 23 people. His message on X directly addressed India, China, and Brazil for their continued purchase of Russian crude.

US Senator Lindsey Graham, a close ally of President Donald Trump, has issued a direct warning to India, China, and Brazil over their continued purchase of oil from Russia, suggesting that these nations could face severe economic consequences. Speaking during a live interview on Fox News, Graham revealed that the Trump administration plans to impose a 100% tariff on oil imports from countries that maintain trade relations with Russia. This bold statement comes

NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte has issued a clear and stern warning to countries maintaining economic relations with Russia amid the ongoing conflict in Ukraine. During recent meetings with U.S. senators, Rutte emphasized that countries like India, China, and Brazil risk facing severe secondary sanctions, including 100 percent tariffs, if they continue their commercial engagements with Russia. His message, delivered just a day after President Donald Trump revealed a new arms package for Uk

US President Donald Trump issued a sharp warning to Iran on Friday, asserting on his Truth Social platform that he had personally intervened to prevent the assassination of Iran’s Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei. In the same message, Trump accused the Iranian leader of ingratitude and threatened renewed airstrikes if Iran made progress in developing military-grade nuclear capabilities. The remarks followed an already tense geopolitical atmosphere, as Iran prepared to hold a state

The Kremlin stated on Wednesday that it would not activate the recently negotiated Black Sea maritime security agreement until a series of longstanding conditions—most of them tied to earlier unmet commitments—are fulfilled. This development comes in the wake of a US-led effort to bring about a ceasefire between Russia and Ukraine in the Black Sea and halt attacks on critical energy infrastructure. On Tuesday, the United States announced that it had reached separate agreements wit

US President Donald Trump has issued a stern warning to Russian President Vladimir Putin, threatening "devastating" sanctions if Moscow refuses to accept a ceasefire agreement in the ongoing Ukraine war. Speaking after a meeting with Ireland’s Prime Minister Micheal Martin at the White House, Trump revealed that US negotiators are en route to Russia for talks aimed at brokering a ceasefire. This development comes shortly after Ukraine's President Volodymyr Zelensky agreed

In a statement made Friday at the White House, President Joe Biden expressed concerns about the difficult position Russian President Vladimir Putin now finds himself in following the latest round of sanctions imposed by the US and the UK. These sweeping sanctions target Russia’s critical energy sector in response to its ongoing invasion of Ukraine. Biden described Putin as being in "tough shape" and stressed the importance of denying him any opportunity to continue his aggress

The United States imposed sanctions on four Pakistani entities on Wednesday, including the National Development Complex (NDC), a key state-owned aerospace and defense agency responsible for Pakistan's ballistic missile program. The sanctions, announced by US State Department spokesperson Matthew Miller, target entities involved in the proliferation of weapons of mass destruction and their delivery systems, specifically missiles. These sanctions freeze US property linked to the targeted co