Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro and his Colombian counterpart Gustavo Petro pledged to deepen economic integration and cooperation between their two countries following a presidential-level meeting Saturday.

The two leaders discussed a variety of topics, including migration, tourism, Venezuela’s support for Colombia’s ongoing peace process with the ELN guerrilla organization, economic revitalization for both countries, and energy integration.

“Excellent work meeting with Gustavo Petro, President of the Republic of Colombia, with whom I spoke about the broad bilateral agenda of our nations and, above all, the map of mutual cooperation that advances with the principles of union and fraternity,” said the Venezuelan president on social media.

Petro has made a deliberate effort to mend economic and political ties with neighboring Venezuela, with the meeting at the Miraflores Presidential Palace in Caracas marking the fifth such meeting between the two heads of state.

https://venezuelanalysis.com/news/colombias-petro-touts-deeper-cooperation-and-energy-integration-with-venezuela-during-visit

Got 40 minutes to spare today? You can listen to our latest podcast episode to learn about Washington's calculations regarding its sanctions relief against Venezuela to access its oil resources and how this affects the 2024 presidential election.

https://venezuelanalysis.com/podcasts/the-venezuelanalysis-podcast-episode-20-sanctions-relief/

Venezuela’s National Electoral Council (CNE) has carried out a “successful” dry-run to prepare for the December 3 referendum intended to measure popular support over the country’s centuries-long claim over the Essequibo Strip.

On November 19, Venezuelans participated in an electoral simulation drill with 800 voting centers opened nationwide, which registered long queues throughout the day. The ballot had five questions regarding the country’s territorial dispute with neighboring Guyana over the 160,000 square kilometer resource-rich Essequibo region.

Venezuela and Guyana’s dispute over the Essequibo Strip dates back to colonial times and remained dormant for years until Texas-based ExxonMobil found significant oil reserves in the region in 2015. Since then, the Guyana government, presently led by President Irfaan Ali, has expanded a bidding process for oil exploration in Essequibo’s undelimited territorial waters, which Caracas argues violates the unresolved legal battle.

https://venezuelanalysis.com/news/venezuela-maduro-warns-of-exxonmobil-interference-ahead-of-historical-essequibo-strip-vote/

In Venezuela, the expressions of solidarity with the people of Palestine have been powerful and permanent, perhaps because Venezuelans know firsthand the brutality of the US and its allies exercise in pursuing their ends. In this exclusive interview, Medea Benjamin reflects on the brutality of US policy against both the people of Palestine and Venezuela, and the mechanisms by which the “enlightened” West carries out wars and genocides.

https://venezuelanalysis.com/interviews/gaza-venezuela-and-collective-punishment-a-conversation-with-medea-benjamin/

In political gossip, it is said that Machado is debating between three options: calling for a rebellion in the streets to force the government to accept her candidacy; calling for abstention in the presidential elections; and appointing a chosen one, a candidate who represents her in the process and who, eventually, appoints her as vice president.

One of those mentioned as Machado’s “frontman” is lawyer Gerardo Blyde, who has headed the opposition delegation in the dialogue process with the government in the last few years. Meanwhile, other reports point out that Venezuelan tycoon Lorenzo Mendoza, owner of Empresas Polar (one of the largest conglomerates in the country’s food, beer and soft drinks sectors), who has appeared as a possible outsider in past presidential elections, should not be discarded.

Machado may not be able to go “all the way”, as her campaign slogan says, but there is no doubt that she will be the main disrupting factor of the 2024 presidential vote, both for President Nicolás Maduro, in his role as candidate for reelection and for whoever turns out to be the main opposition candidate.

https://venezuelanalysis.com/analysis/unusual-and-extraordinary-opposition-prospects-remain-unclear-after-primary-elections/

Venezuelanalysis was founded 20 years ago in the aftermath of the coup against Hugo Chávez.

As we celebrate our 20th anniversary, we look back on all the work we have done, and we also look to the challenges ahead. How can we continue to provide solidarity organizations and the general public with the tools to understand Venezuela and organize against US imperialism?

That is why we are asking for your support during our yearly fundraiser. A one-time donation or a monthly subnoscription will help us carry on expanding and improving our content. Remember no amount is too small!

https://venezuelanalysis.com/donate/

The unsolved border dispute between Venezuela and Guyana sparked renewed tensions in recent weeks. The two governments have engaged in a war of words, military presence has increased, as well as fears of US intervention.

The following infographic recaps the main chapters of the longstanding controversy over the resource-rich Essequibo Strip.

https://venezuelanalysis.com/infographics/justice-and-sovereignty-the-dispute-over-the-essequibo-strip/

The Venezuelan government has urged the US government to lift all sanctions against the country, while also denying any violations of the Barbados agreement.

The stance came in response to a November 30 deadline set by Washington for Venezuelan authorities to lift political bans on Venezuelan opposition leaders are not lifted. US officials threatened to reverse recent relief measures otherwise.

“Venezuela as a whole, by consensus, demands that all sanctions against its economy be permanently lifted and that we begin a new era of relations based on respect and collaboration between the United States and Venezuela,” voiced President Nicolás Maduro on Wednesday during a meeting with representatives of different economic sectors in Caracas.

https://venezuelanalysis.com/news/venezuela-govt-rejects-us-ultimatum-demands-permanent-sanctions-removal/

Too little attention has been paid to the dire impact of the 8-year-old US blockade on the lives of children and adolescents, who are among the most vulnerable parts of the Venezuelan population. To counter this oversight and raise awareness about the condition of Venezuela’s children, Anahi Arizmendi, a journalist and human rights advocate, has written the new book Infancia bajo asedio [Children Under Siege]. Here she talks to Venezuelanalysis about the real-life impact of the unilateral coercive measures on Venezuela’s youth.

https://venezuelanalysis.com/interviews/venezuelan-children-under-the-us-blockade-a-conversation-with-anahi-arizmendi/

The Venezuelan government and the US-backed hardline opposition have agreed to allow the country’s Supreme Court to review the cases of candidates disqualified from running for public office, the parties announced Thursday via Norwegian mediators.

“Today we have taken another step in the right direction, ratifying what was agreed in Barbados, to ensure respect for the decisions of [our] institutions, the rule of law and the Constitution of Venezuela,” said lead government negotiator Jorge Rodríguez.

The opposition and US officials argue that the political agreement signed in Barbados, which lays out conditions for upcoming presidential elections, includes a provision to allow disqualified opposition leaders to run. Meanwhile, Caracas maintains that the Barbados Accords do not provide for such a measure.

https://venezuelanalysis.com/news/venezuela-disqualified-politicians-can-launch-supreme-court-appeal/

The Venezuelan government held a closing campaign rally ahead of a non-binding referendum that will measure popular support for a longstanding territorial claim over the Essequibo Strip.

“This Sunday, with our votes, we will defend the Guayana Esequiba,” Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro told crowds in Caracas, using Venezuela’s name for the disputed territory. “I call on everyone to take part in this popular initiative.”

On December 3, around 20 million Venezuelan voters are eligible to participate in a five-question referendum centered on the controversial border between Venezuela and neighboring Guyana.

https://venezuelanalysis.com/news/venezuela-gears-up-for-essequibo-referendum-icj-warns-against-changes-to-status-quo/

Venezuelans head to the polls today in a non-binding referendum to express their support for the country's territorial claim over the Essequibo Strip.

The 5-question referendum is expected to deliver an overwhelming "Yes" vote. All eyes are on turnout. Can the government rally support for a nearly unanimous national cause?

Follow Venezuelanalysis on Twitter for rolling coverage: https://twitter.com/venanalysis

Venezuelanalysis' Andreína Chávez offers this report from one of Caracas' largest voting centers.

After a visit to several voting centers in Caracas, Venezuelanalysis editor Ricardo Vaz reports a smooth voting day so far as Venezuelans participate in a referendum over the Essequibo.

Venezuela’s referendum on the Essequibo continues. Voting closes at 6pm (EST), although polls will stay open longer if people are still queuing, and the results are expected later tonight.

VA’s Cira Pascual Marquina brings the latest report from the 23 de Enero neighborhood.

Venezuelans voted to support the country’s sovereignty claim over the Essequibo Strip in a non-binding referendum on Sunday.

National Electoral Council (CNE) President Elvis Amoroso reported that all five referendum questions, related to different aspects of Venezuela’s argument over the controversial border with Guyana, had between 95-98 percent of “Yes” votes.

Venezuela has disputed the 160,000 square kilometer territory since the 19th century, originally with the United Kingdom and later with independent Guyana.

On Sunday, voters were asked whether they rejected the 1899 arbitration ruling that awarded the territory to the UK and instead supported the 1966 Geneva Agreement that saw all parties commit to an amicable solution, if they opposed the International Court of Justice (ICJ) jurisdiction on the matter as well as Guyanese efforts to extract resources in the Essequibo’s waters.

https://venezuelanalysis.com/news/venezuela-referendum-delivers-overwhelming-backing-for-essequibo-claim/

Venezuela said it was prepared to defend the result of Sunday’s referendum concerning the Essequibo region from US interference in the matter, the government said Monday in a statement.

“The Venezuelan people as a whole demonstrated their will unequivocally and their revolutionary government will defend this democratic expression in the face of any blackmail or interventionist threat,” read the statement.

Venezuelans overwhelmingly voted to support the country’s sovereignty claim over the Essequibo Strip in a referendum carried out on Sunday. Election officials reported that all five referendum questions, related to different aspects of Venezuela’s argument over the controversial border with Guyana, received between 95-98 percent of “Yes” votes.

The National Electoral Council (CNE) reported a turnout of 10.4 million people.

https://venezuelanalysis.com/news/venezuela-rejects-unacceptable-us-meddling-in-essequibo-dispute/

Venezuela has always been exposed to the US’ hegemonic culture. Its reach when it comes to fashion, movies, music, etc. is huge, and on some occasions this becomes very visible.

It is a consequence of our proximity, of the global dominance of the US cultural industry, and also a direct consequence of our all-important oil industry. For example, it was around the oilfields that people started playing baseball. Later, when a new class found itself flush with money, it did nothing more than imitate the consumer practices from the North.

I’m bringing up these things because right now, as Christmas approaches, the streets of Caracas are decorated with giant, lit polar bears, some dressed as Santa Claus, others looking like they came straight out of a Coca-Cola commercial.

Not just that, every Christmas decoration I have seen in our parks, highways, plazas, etc. seems carbon copied from what you would find in a US city.

And Christmas traditions are in no short supply in Venezuela. We could represent the instruments used in the aguinaldos, parrandas and gaitas (traditional music genres) which are unique to our country and a familiar soundtrack in December.

https://venezuelanalysis.com/analysis/tales-of-resistance-polar-bears-and-transculturation/

The Venezuelan government has firmly condemned Guyanese President Irfaan Ali’s overtures to the US Southern Command (Southcom) and other military partners in the disputed Essequibo Strip.

In a statement issued on Wednesday, the Venezuelan Foreign Ministry rejected Guyana’s “imprudent attitude” for opening “the possibility for an imperial power to install military bases,” threatening the region’s stability.

On Tuesday, President Irfaan Ali announced that the Guyana Defence Force (GDF) was “on full alert” and had “engaged its military counterparts including the US Southern Command” to safeguard the Essequibo territory. On Thursday, according to the US embassy in Guyana, the US Southcom conducted “flight operations” alongside the GDF.

https://venezuelanalysis.com/news/venezuela-govt-rejects-us-southern-command-presence-in-essequibo-amidst-border-dispute/