International
The presidential elections of Venezuela, under the critical gaze of the international community
Venezuela has been in the spotlight of the international community, especially since March, when the majority opposition denounced obstacles to register its presidential candidate of July 28, Corina Yoris.
This raised a swell of criticism to which leftist leaders close to the Government were joined, such as the Colombian president, Gustavo Petro, or the Brazilian, Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva.
Petro described the disqualifications of opponents as an “anti-democratic coup,” and Lula described as “serious” and without explanation “political or legal” the impediments to register Yoris, chosen by the alliance in the face of the sanction that weighs on María Corina Machado – winner of the anti-Chavista primaries-, which prevents her from occupying public positions of popular election until 2036.
Likewise, former Uruguayan President José ‘Pepe’ Mujica recently expressed that the situation in Venezuela is “unfortunate”, where “it seems that they play democracy, but they do not play democracy.”
Meanwhile, the president of Mexico, Andrés Manuel López Obrador, in a kinder, but, above all, more ambiguous tone, asked that Venezuela be allowed to vote “in freedom,” a reaction that was well received by both the Government and the opposition.
According to internationalist Félix Arellano, these positions show an “important change” in that “Latin American left” that, to a large extent, has supported the Caribbean country with a “mechanical and uncritical solidarity.”
“These statements by Pepe Mujica, Petro and Lula have a new look at the Venezuelan situation,” Arellano said.
These questions, he said, mark “more distances” from the Government “from the left-wing parties and governments in the world.”
For the expert, the “conjuncture is not proving favorable” to the Executive, because “there is an increasingly strong crusade of the international community in favor of competitive conditions” for the presidential elections.
“At this moment, it seems that only Cuba, Nicaragua and, to some extent, Mexico, are more committed to the Venezuelan Government and, obviously, actors of world geopolitics, such as Russia and China,” he said.
Arellano believes that a new distancing would play against Venezuela, which “has shown interest in maintaining some minimum of negotiation with the international community, particularly with the United States” due to “the issue of sanctions,” whose relief allowed to expand its cooperation with energy companies around the world.
The extension of a few hours to the deadline to register candidates granted by the National Electoral Council (CNE) to the PUD, which presented to the internationalist Edmundo González Urrutia, could, according to Arellano, show that “there is concern about the position of the international community.”
In addition to Colombia and Brazil, Argentina, Uruguay, Costa Rica, Ecuador, Guatemala, Paraguay, Peru and the United States. The United States, as well as the Organization of American States (OAS) and the European Union (EU), expressed their concern about the development of the electoral process.
For Chavista deputy Roy Daza, there is “disinformation from some government spokespersons” and “personalities from the Latin American and European political world.”
According to he told EFE, “an attempt is made to manipulate, with lies and falsehoods, what is happening in Venezuela,” where the process of applying candidates “was fulfilled,” with the registration of 13 candidates and the participation of 37 parties.
In his opinion, Lula has a “biased information,” while Petro has lent himself “to a hoax.”
However, Daza is confident that this situation will not affect Venezuela’s relations with Latin American countries, which “are maintained and developed very efficiently.”
He announced that the commission will send communications to regional parliaments and the US Congress, in defense of the electoral system and in rejection of “interference.”
President Nicolás Maduro criticized that “right-wing” and “cowardly left” governments try to “intervene in Venezuela’s internal affairs.”
Meanwhile, the head of Parliament, Jorge Rodríguez, urged Petro, Lula and Mujica to put “their opinions wherever they fit.”
Arellano warned that, with these reactions, “a favorable environment is not created” and distances can be increased, which has consequences, he added, on economic relations and political support.
International
U.S. warns China over Taiwan during high-level defense talks in Kuala Lumpur
U.S. Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth expressed concerns over China’s growing military activity near Taiwan during a meeting on Friday with Chinese Defense Minister Dong Jun in Kuala Lumpur.
“It was a constructive and positive meeting,” Hegseth wrote on X. “I emphasized the importance of maintaining a balance of power in the Indo-Pacific and raised U.S. concerns about China’s actions around Taiwan,” the self-governed island that Beijing claims and does not rule out invading.
The meeting took place on the sidelines of the ASEAN Defense Ministers Meeting-Plus, one day after U.S. President Donald Trump met Chinese President Xi Jinping in Busan, South Korea. According to Trump, Taiwan was not discussed during their talks.
“The United States does not seek conflict and will continue to firmly defend its interests, ensuring it maintains the capability to do so in the region,” Hegseth added in his message.
Friday’s encounter followed a September 9 video call between Hegseth and Dong. Their previously planned meeting at the Shangri-La Dialogue in Singapore was canceled due to Dong’s absence from the event.
Trump’s sit-down with Xi — their first since 2019 — resulted in some trade agreements but avoided addressing the issue of Taiwan, a long-standing source of tension between the world’s two largest powers.
Trump has taken a more ambiguous stance on Taiwan’s future compared with former President Joe Biden, who repeatedly stated that Washington would support Taipei if China launched an invasion. The Republican president has also criticized Taiwan for “stealing” the U.S. semiconductor industry.
International
U.S. considering airstrikes on military sites in Venezuela, reports say
The United States may soon carry out airstrikes on military facilities inside Venezuela as part of an escalating offensive against Nicolás Maduro’s regime, according to reports Friday from the Miami Herald and The Wall Street Journal, citing sources close to the Trump administration.
Airstrikes could take place “within days or even hours,” the Herald reported. The Journal noted that while the option is under serious consideration, President Donald Trump has not yet made a final decision on authorizing strikes on Venezuelan soil.
Potential targets allegedly include military-controlled ports and airports used in drug trafficking operations, such as naval installations and airstrips, officials told the Journal.
The Herald also quoted a source saying that “Maduro’s time is running out”, suggesting that more than one Venezuelan general may be ready to detain and hand him over. However, officials declined to confirm whether the Venezuelan leader would be among the military targets.
Trump has repeatedly vowed to block the flow of illegal drugs into the United States, following nearly two months of airstrikes against vessels in the Pacific and the Caribbean. Those operations have destroyed 15 boats and left 61 people dead and three survivors since September 1.
“We are finally waging a war against the cartels — a war like they’ve never seen before — and we are going to win that battle. We are already winning at sea,” Trump told U.S. troops during a speech in Japan.
The reports on possible airstrikes come on the same day the United Nations accused the U.S. of violating international law with its maritime operations, saying those killed at sea may have been victims of extrajudicial executions.
International
Pope Leo XIV revives Global Compact on Education to confront cultural crisis
Pope Leo XIV announced on Friday that he will revive and update the Global Compact on Education, an initiative launched by the late Pope Francis aimed at deeply transforming global culture through education.
The announcement was made during an audience in St. Peter’s Square, held on the occasion of the Jubilee of the Educational World, which this week gathers more than 20,000 participants from 124 countries in Rome.
During his address, the pontiff — who is of U.S. origin and Peruvian nationality — emphasized the importance of restoring the value of educators and reinforcing the principles that support the pact.
“We must be careful: damaging the social and cultural role of educators means mortgaging our own future,” he warned before thousands in attendance. “A crisis in the transmission of knowledge leads to a crisis of hope.”
The Global Compact on Education, launched by Pope Francis, seeks an integral and long-term cultural transformation. It is structured around five pillars: dignity and human rights; fraternity and cooperation; technology and integral ecology; education for peace and citizenship; and culture and religions. To date, the initiative has been joined by over 553 schools and nearly 410,000 students, according to Catholic Schools data.
Pope Leo XIV also expressed concern over the widespread inner fragility affecting both students and teachers — many of whom feel overwhelmed by bureaucratic burdens.
He additionally addressed the role of artificial intelligence in education, warning that it may worsen emotional isolation among learners: “It can further isolate students who are already isolated, giving them the illusion that they do not need others — or worse, the feeling that they are unworthy of them,” he said.
U.S. warns China over Taiwan during high-level defense talks in Kuala Lumpur
U.S. considering airstrikes on military sites in Venezuela, reports say
Pope Leo XIV revives Global Compact on Education to confront cultural crisis
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