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.
Central America
Peru’s ambassador highlights “historic bonds” with El Salvador on Independence Day

The Ambassador of Peru to El Salvador, Jorge Rosado La Torre, reaffirmed on Monday evening—during Peru’s Independence Day celebration—that Peru “maintains historic ties of friendship, cooperation, and mutual respect with El Salvador” and acknowledged “its firm willingness to continue deepening our bilateral relations.”
Rosado La Torre highlighted the strong relations between El Salvador and Peru at the ceremony held at the Palacio Tecleño de la Cultura y las Artes to mark the 204th Anniversary of Peru’s Independence, proclaimed on July 28, 1821.
“El Salvador and Peru share fundamental principles: respect for the rule of law, the promotion of human rights, multilateralism, and the defense of peace and democracy,” the diplomat said during the event, which was attended by diplomatic authorities, Salvadoran officials, members of the Peruvian community, and friends of Peru.
The ambassador also emphasized that Peru and El Salvador “are also united by cultural, social, and human bonds, which grow stronger every day through joint work and the connection between our societies.”
Rosado La Torre noted that Peru’s Independence Day “not only allows us to celebrate a national milestone but also to strengthen the bonds of brotherhood and cooperation between our peoples.”
International
U.S. and China push for extension of tariff truce after “constructive” talks in Sweden

The United States and China “will continue working” to secure an extension of their tariff truce, China’s international trade representative Li Chenggang said Tuesday, according to state news agency Xinhua.
Li’s comments followed negotiations in Sweden with a U.S. delegation led by Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent, describing the talks as “frank, in-depth, and constructive,” Xinhua reported.
The discussions aimed to prolong the 90-day pause negotiated in Geneva in May—set to expire on August 12—which temporarily ended the mutual retaliatory measures that had triggered punitive tariffs. The truce lowered customs duties on U.S. and Chinese goods from 125% and 145% respectively, to a more moderate 10% and 30%, on top of existing tariffs, ahead of Donald Trump’s return to the White House earlier this year.
The U.S. and Chinese delegations—led by Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent and Vice Premier He Lifeng—also exchanged views on key economic and trade issues and pledged to maintain close communication, Li added.
The talks in Sweden came at the start of a crucial week for Trump’s trade policy, as tariffs on most of the United States’ main trading partners are set for a sharp increase on August 1.
International
Trump administration opens civil rights probe into duke university over alleged bias

The administration of U.S. President Donald Trump launched a formal investigation on Monday into Duke Universityand its law journal over alleged “discriminatory practices.”
The Department of Education’s Office for Civil Rights (OCR) opened the probe following complaints that Duke’s law review selection process allegedly awarded extra points to applicants who “referenced their race or ethnicity in their personal statements,” according to a statement from the department.
Based in North Carolina, Duke is the latest academic institution to come under scrutiny from the Republican administration, which has escalated an ideological battle against universities.
Trump has repeatedly claimed that higher education institutions have been “captured by the far left” and has taken action to sanction and ban Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI) programs aimed at addressing social inequities in admissions and faculty hiring.
Education Secretary Linda McMahon and Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. sent a joint letter to Duke’s leadership expressing concerns about the use of “racial criteria in hiring, admissions, and scholarship awards,” particularly within the university’s health system.
“I’m proud to partner with Secretary Kennedy to ensure Duke commits to excellence, integrity, and respect for the law in shaping the nation’s future leaders,” McMahon said.
“Granting illegal preferential treatment based on immutable characteristics is an affront not only to civil rights laws but also to the meritocratic nature of academic excellence,” she added.
The decision to investigate Duke comes just days after Columbia University agreed to pay a $200 million fine to settle accusations by the Trump administration of alleged antisemitism.
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