Life since Trump, Maduro & Bukele struck that deal:

August 10, 2025: Invoking Bolivar’s Gran Colombia, Gustavo Petro tweets that any military operation in Colombian or Venezuelan soil will be an “aggression against Latin America and the Caribbean.” 

August 9, 2025: Quoting that story from The New York Times, Gustavo Petro calls Venezuela and the U.S. to engage in “coordinated, multinational” actions against drug trafficking.

August 8, 2025: Claudia Sheinbaum says a U.S. military intervention in Mexico will not happen, rejects links between Maduro/Cartel de los Soles and the Sinaloa Cartel. “Show the evidence if you have it. We have none.”

August 8, 2025: Trump allows the Pentagon to use military force against cartels deemed terrorist organizations, according to The New York Times. Cartel de los Soles, TDA, Sinaloa Cartel and MS-13 mentioned in the report. The Times compiles that full list of criminal organizations in this piece.

August 8, 2025: Venezuelan Foreign Minister says the new bounty on Maduro is the “biggest smokescreen they have ever seen” and a “media circus to please the Venezuelan far right.”

August 7, 2025: Through the State and Justice Departments, the U.S. doubles the bounty for Maduro’s capture to $50 million, up from $25 million.

August 7, 2025: Chevron tankers begin their return to Venezuela, according to Reuters.

August 1, 2025: Chevron CEO says exports of Venezuelan oil will resume this month.

July 28, 2025: First anniversary of Maduro’s fraud after the 2024 presidential election. No protests or overt political activities in Venezuela save a few signs and graffiti in the street. In a speech published on her social media, María Corina Machado calls for the “clandestine organization of political structures” inside the country, and military and police forces to prepare to defend the results of last year’s election.

July 27, 2025: A municipal vote takes place in Venezuela. Chavismo gets 85% of local governments, with no evidence of results. DEA reminds the public of the Cartel de los Soles’ new designation and bounties on Maduro, Cabello and Padrino. Marco Rubio says Maduro is not the rightful president, but a cartel kingpin.

July 25, 2025: The U.S. sanctions Cartel de los Soles as a Specially Designated Global Terrorist. Treasury statement says Maduro is cartel kingpin, and Cartel de los Soles provides material support to Tren de Aragua and Sinaloa Cartel.

July 24, 2025: The Wall Street Journal leaks that Chevron is getting a new authorization to pump oil in Venezuela as part of an agreement between Caracas and Washington DC. A U.S. official is quoted saying Venezuela won’t be able to profit from business with Chevron.

July 23, 2025: Venezuela and Colombia agree to create a binational Special Economic Zone along the border spanning Táchira, Zulia, Norte de Santander and La Guajira.

July 18, 2025: Prisoner swap takes place between the U.S., El Salvador and Venezuela. Maduro gets back 238 Venezuelans imprisoned in CECOT, releases 66 political prisoners in the following days while arresting others. Ten American prisoners held by Maduro return home. Marco Rubio celebrates the release of American detainees.

July 17, 2025: State Department announces sanctions against five Tren de Aragua figures. Designation of TDA as a Foreign Terrorist Organization came on February 20.