Rodríguez changes the historical military chief of Venezuela

The president in charge appoints a general sanctioned by the US as the new Minister of Defense, in a key change after the fall of Maduro.

Publicado 18 marzo, 2026 el 18 de marzo a las 16:29 | 2 mins reading |3,094 vistas | por Ana Rodríguez

A change in the Venezuelan military leadership

Delcy Rodríguez, the president who took office after the capture of Nicolás Maduro, has moved a fundamental piece. This Wednesday he announced the replacement of General Vladimir Padrino López, Minister of Defense since 2014, with Gustavo González López.

“Inform the country that today I have appointed G/J Gustavo González López as Minister of Popular Power for Defense,” Rodríguez said on Telegram.

The change comes more than ten weeks after Rodríguez took charge. It happened after a US operation that deposed Maduro on January 3. The former president now faces charges in New York.

A new face with a complicated past

González López is not unknown. He has extensive experience in intelligence and was sanctioned by the United States. The reason? His role in the 2014 street protests, which left dozens dead.

Since January 6, he already commanded the Presidential Honor Guard and the Military Counterintelligence Directorate. His promotion completes a renovation that began when Rodríguez took office.

Padrino López was something of an institution. One of the ministers with the longest time in Maduro’s team and a key piece in military support for the previous regime. His departure marks the end of an era.

“We thank G/J Vladimir Padrino López for his dedication, his loyalty to the Homeland,” said Rodríguez, announcing that he will assume “new responsibilities.”

The interesting thing is that both Padrino López and González López have something in common: they studied in the United States. They trained at the famous School of the Americas and then at Fort Benning, Georgia.

In September 2018, Washington had already sanctioned Padrino López for “ensuring military loyalty to the Maduro regime.” Now it is González López’s turn to navigate that tense relationship with the Trump government.

The military has always been the arbiters of power in Venezuela. They control not only the military, but key sectors of the economy. This change says a lot about how Rodríguez wants to handle that power.

International

Trump considers resuming oil sanctions against Russia at the G7

Trump would evaluate new restrictions on Russian crude oil at the G7 summit.

Publicado 1 hour ago el 17 de junio a las 08:20 | 2 mins reading

Trump and Russian oil on the G7 agenda

United States President Donald Trump announced at the G7 summit in Evian-les-Bains that he is considering reimposing sanctions on Russian oil exports. The measure seeks to return the war in Ukraine to the center of international debate, while the conflict in the Middle East loses strength after the ceasefire between Washington and Tehran.

Trump indicated that the temporary easing of sanctions, applied to stabilize crude oil prices, could be reversed as the flow through the Strait of Hormuz normalizes. “We can act soon,” he said.

Military support for Ukraine and new sanctions

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy participated in the meetings and called for increased military support in the face of Russian attacks. He stressed that Ukraine seeks peace, but accused Moscow of prolonging the conflict without progress towards negotiation.

The G7 leaders discussed the supply of Patriot missiles and strengthening arms production with European allies. In addition, the United Kingdom imposed sanctions against the so-called “clandestine fleet” that Russia uses to evade energy restrictions.

The geopolitical context is complex: Emmanuel Macron seeks to balance the response to Ukraine with the de-escalation in the Middle East, while allies try to contain volatility in oil prices.

International

Tourism in Cuba plummets: arrivals fall 41.6% in May

Cuba registered only 30,800 tourists in May, a drop of 41.6% year-on-year.

Publicado 13 hours ago el 16 de junio a las 20:08 | 2 mins reading

May confirms the downward trend

Cuba received only 30,800 foreign tourists in May, according to the National Office of Statistics and Information (ONEI). The figure represents a year-on-year drop of 41.6% and a slight rebound compared to April.

In the first five months of the year, 359,491 international visitors arrived, 505,706 less than in the same period in 2025. Canada continues to be the main issuing market, with 126,239 tourists. They are followed by Cuban emigrants (60,874) and travelers from the United States (25,572).

Russia, Mexico, Argentina and China also show sharp declines. European countries such as Italy, Portugal and Germany left the top 10. Spain and France only contributed 8,106 and 7,525 visitors, respectively.

The drop has been constant: from 184,833 tourists in January, it fell to 77,663 in February and 35,561 in March.

Factors that aggravate the crisis

Starting in June, the situation will worsen with the departure of foreign hotel companies that operated alongside Gaviota, from the GAESA conglomerate. Dozens of facilities will be out of service. The hotel occupancy rate in the first quarter of 2026 fell to 12.9%, well below the 23.7% of the previous year.

In addition, most international airlines canceled flights due to critical fuel shortages, following the end of shipments from Venezuela and Mexico, and in the face of threats of sanctions from Washington.

In 2025, Cuba received just over 1.8 million foreign visitors, far from the projected 2.6 million. In 2024, 2.2 million arrived and in 2023, 2.4 million. The figures reflect a sustained deterioration in the sector, hit by the lack of fuel, the departure of international companies and lower global demand.

International

US and Iran reach provisional agreement to reopen Hormuz

The US and Iran agree to reopen the Strait of Hormuz and extend the truce.

Publicado 1 day ago el 16 de junio a las 07:54 | 1 min reading

The United States and Iran closed a provisional agreement that seeks to end the armed conflict and reopen the Strait of Hormuz, one of the most strategic maritime routes on the planet. The understanding also contemplates extending the fragile ceasefire in force in the region, amid years of military and political tension.

What does the pact contemplate?

The announcement opens the door to a formal signing next Friday in Switzerland, although authorities acknowledge that previous similar attempts have failed. As of Monday, the final content remained in dispute, especially on issues of regional security, nuclear verification and conditions for the lifting of sanctions.

The crisis between both nations has deep roots, from the Iranian nuclear program initiated with international cooperation to the Islamic Revolution of 1979. Since then, relations have been marked by diplomatic ruptures, economic sanctions and indirect clashes in the Middle East. The new agreement could mark a turning point, but doubts remain over its implementation.