International
González Urrutia asks the world to remain “firm” in defense of Venezuela’s democracy
The standard-bearer of the majority opposition of Venezuela, Edmundo González Urrutia, called this Friday on the different countries of the world to remain “firm” in “the defense” of the democracy of the Caribbean nation and continue to demand the “respect for the results” of the presidential elections, in which he claims to have won, despite the fact that the electoral body proclaimed the victory of Nicolás Maduro.
In a statement, the leader of the main opposition coalition – the Democratic United Platform (PUD) – also asked the international community to insist on its call for “transparency” by the authorities of the South American country, where – he warned – “peace is at stake.”
The former ambassador spoke out after Chile, Argentina, Costa Rica, Ecuador, the United States, Guatemala, Panama, Paraguay, Peru, the Dominican Republic and Uruguay rejected the validation of Maduro’s controversial victory by the Supreme Court of Justice (TSJ), after a process of “validation” of the electoral results, requested by the ruling party to this institution controlled by magistrates alike Chavismo.
González Urrutia called on “all social and political organizations, even those that did not” “accompanied him electorally,” to unite and make “respect the decision expressed by the Venezuelans with their vote.”
“In the face of the onslaw against our freedoms and popular sovereignty, I call on all Venezuelans to unite in their defense, because it is no small thing that is at stake,” said González Urrutia, who added that “only in democracy” the country will have “the opportunity to undergo a change in peace,” in order to “progress and live with well-being.”
In a joint statement, the governments of the 11 American countries doubted “the alleged verification” that “intends to validate the results without sustenance issued by the electoral body,” since the results disaggregated by center and table had not been published, something that had been done in all the previous elections.
Likewise, they recalled that “they had already expressed the ignorance of the validity of the declaration” of the National Electoral Council (CNE), after “the representatives of the opposition to the official count, the non-publication of the minutes and the subsequent refusal to carry out an impartial and independent audit of all of them were prevented.”
In this sense, they reiterated that “only an impartial and independent audit of the votes, which evaluates all the minutes, will guarantee respect for the sovereign popular will and democracy in Venezuela.”
Like “the rest of the international democratic community,” they added, they will continue to “insist on respect for the sovereign expression of the Venezuelan people.”
The anti-chavist coalition assures that González Urrutia won by a wide margin, and published “83.5% of the electoral records,” compiled by witnesses and members of the bureau, to support his claim, supported by several countries and national and international organizations.
The CNE proclaimed Maduro the winner based on results that, after 26 days of the elections, still does not publish in a disaggregated way, despite the fact that it was contemplated in the electoral schedule.
International
U.S. and Mexico Reach Deal to Address Water Deficit Under 1944 Treaty
The United States and Mexico have reached an agreement to comply with current water obligations affecting U.S. farmers and ranchers and for Mexico to cover its water deficit to Texas under the 1944 Water Treaty, the U.S. Department of Agriculture said in a statement.
The department уточified that the agreement applies to both the current cycle and the water deficit from the previous cycle.
On Monday, U.S. President Donald Trump accused Mexico of failing to comply with the water-sharing treaty between the two countries, which requires the United States to deliver 1.85 billion cubic meters of water from the Colorado River, while Mexico must supply 432 million cubic meters from the Rio Grande.
Mexico is behind on its commitments. According to Washington, the country has accumulated a deficit of more than one billion cubic meters of water over the past five years.
“This violation is severely harming our beautiful crops and our livestock in Texas,” Trump wrote on Monday.
The Department of Agriculture said on Friday that Mexico had agreed to supply 250 million cubic meters of water starting next week and to work toward closing the shortfall.
Agriculture Secretary Brooke Rollins, quoted in the statement, said Mexico delivered more water in a single year than it had over the previous four years combined.
Trump has said that if Mexico continues to fall short of its obligations, the United States reserves the right to impose 5% tariffs on imported Mexican products.
Mexico’s Deputy Foreign Minister for North America, Roberto Velasco, said that a severe drought in 2022 and 2023prevented the country from meeting its commitments.
International
Several people shot in attack on Brown University campus
Several people were shot on Saturday in an attack on the campus of Brown University, in the northeastern United States, local police reported.
“Shelter in place and avoid the area until further notice,” the Providence Police Department urged in a post on X. Brown University is located in Providence, the capital of the state of Rhode Island.
U.S. President Donald Trump said on his social media platform Truth Social that he had been briefed on the situation and that the FBI was on the scene.
At 5:52 p.m. local time (11:52 p.m. GMT), Brown University said the situation was still “ongoing” and instructed students to remain sheltered until further notice.
After initially stating that the suspect had been taken into custody, Trump later posted a second message clarifying that local police had walked back that information. “The suspect has NOT been apprehended,” the U.S. president said.
International
Colombia says it would not reject Maduro asylum request as regional tensions escalate
The Colombian government stated on Thursday that it would have no reason to reject a potential asylum request from Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro should he leave office, as regional tensions persist over the deployment of U.S. military forces in the Caribbean since August.
“In the current climate of tension, negotiations are necessary, and if the United States demands a transition or political change, that is something to be assessed. If such a transition results in him (Maduro) needing to live elsewhere or seek protection, Colombia would have no reason to deny it,” said Colombian Foreign Minister Rosa Villavicencio in an interview with Caracol Radio.
However, Villavicencio noted that it is unlikely Maduro would choose Colombia as a refuge. “I believe he would opt for someplace more distant and calmer,” she added.
Colombian President Gustavo Petro also commented on Venezuela’s situation on Wednesday, arguing that the country needs a “democratic revolution” rather than “inefficient repression.” His remarks followed the recent detention and passport cancellation of Cardinal Baltazar Porras at the Caracas airport.
“The Maduro government must understand that responding to external aggression requires more than military preparations; it requires a democratic revolution. A country is defended with more democracy, not more inefficient repression,” Petro wrote on X (formerly Twitter), in a rare public criticism of the Venezuelan leader.
Petro also called for a general amnesty for political opponents and reiterated his call for forming a broad transitional government to address Venezuela’s prolonged crisis.
Since September, U.S. military forces have destroyed more than 20 vessels allegedly carrying drugs in Caribbean and Pacific waters near Venezuela and Colombia, resulting in over 80 deaths.
U.S. President Donald Trump has repeatedly warned that attacks “inside Venezuela” will begin “soon,” while Maduro has urged Venezuelans to prepare for what he describes as an impending external aggression.
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