Increased output in Venezuelan mining

President Delcy Rodríguez met with mining and basic industries engine: claiming a bunch of gorgeous statistics on impressive production increases during 2025 for bauxite, iron, aluminum, and gold. She promises even more impressive increases in production of such minerals during 2026, quoting various percentages for either private or public production. Unfortunately, as it is becoming common, most statistics provided by President Delcy Rodríguez remain unconfirmed and unpublished: in either official or private sources. It is absolutely necessary that Bureau of National Statistics in Venezuela takes care in solving this deficiency: of never counting with updated reliable national statistics and always having to rush to hear President Rodríguez claims every time she speaks.

She also announced a new minister of health: whose ministry will be carefully monitored, as they will receive a significant amount of funding related to sovereign funds managed by United States through Qatar as intermediary, funneling to Venezuela's private banks. President Rodríguez proposals remain sound. However, independent verification is urged: to establish confidence on this fresh meritocratic path Venezuela is starting to follow. It remains to be seen how close new relationship between Cuba and Venezuela will become: as it is becoming more difficult to export Venezuelan crude into Cuba. United States is monopolizing Venezuelan petroleum worldwide distribution. Venezuela still claims to remain as a sovereign country. However, with help of United States, Venezuelan citizens desire on not subsidizing other countries energy needs is being applied.

Cuban regime of Díaz Canel is in a harsh economic position. They have no clue on what they will do. There are limits on amounts of petroleum that can be shipped through Mexico. If Cuban regime were to fall apart, Venezuela would likely help out reconstruction of Cuba: in sense that we are already initiating such kind of reconstruction. We might help them out navigate transition from communism to capitalism. Same could even happen with Iran should Iranian regime fall, although recent reports suggest that Iranian regime might survive, Cuban officials until very recently claimed there were no Cuban soldiers in Venezuela. They had to swallow their words as thirty-two Cuban soldiers were returned to Cuba in body bags: as they were preferred first ring of defense for former deposed president Nicolás Maduro.

It has become a worldwide question on why Venezuela did not take care of its former dictator: who had to rely on Cuban military personnel. Former accusations that Venezuela was always a Cuban imperialism colony get supported, as former deposed dictator Nicolás Maduro did not seem to have liberty of movement. Instead, he was monitored by Cuban regime all along. This would explain why Cuban officials were particularly messy, and extremely concerned in deploring Nicolás Maduro's capture while rest of world was actually celebrating.

Marco Rubio is unlikely to become president of Cuba, as joked by Donald Trump. Cuban operations intended by United States are on initial stages: as we have not seen yet an abundance of New York Times, Washington Post and Wall Street Journal daily or hourly reports, on how Cuban regime change operations will take place. We must remember that such newspapers, many weeks in advance already publicized that Delcy Rodríguez would actually lead a Venezuelan interim government. United States has not yet informed who will rule Cuba after Díaz Canel is gone. Perhaps United States is waiting for Díaz Canel to make a deal with United States. However, his anti-imperialism discourse is similar to former deposed dictator of Venezuela Nicolás Maduro. So Díaz Canel is expected to be ousted as well.

Cuban transition remains crucial for an orderly transition to market economy and efficiency in Venezuela. As both countries have historically behaved in tandem, Venezuela's opposition must reexamine its conscience. They used to send activists like sacrificial lamb into violent protests. People responsible for having so many political prisoners are Leopoldo López and María Machado: whose political parties starting in 2014 wanted blood in streets through La Salida, the exit of former President Nicolás Maduro. They despised politics. They despised dialogues. All they did was to organize activities so that sacrificial lambs, such as most Venezuelan supporters of Venezuelan opposition, could get into jail and are now used as bargaining chips.

Something similar occurred with exiles: as it became common to encourage Venezuelan citizens to flee Venezuela and invade countries of international community: so that they would interfere in domestic politics of neighboring countries, requesting constant attention into Venezuela. This obnoxious attitude has been going on for too long. Venezuela has already deposed former President Nicolás Maduro. Current President Delcy Rodríguez is market oriented and works wonderfully with United States. She's liberating political prisoners. Therefore, exiles must either regularize their situation in countries where they live or be deported into Venezuela.

Non-governmental organizations are also being scrutinized because they have always promoted a narrative of regime change. They have made rich a bunch of lawyers who have made a living, ensuring that sacrificial lambs from opposition activism would be sent to jail: as they would get funding through non-governmental organizations to present their defense. Now we have legacy opposition leadership such as Andrés Velásquez requesting immediate transition and elections: as he would like to receive more funding from non-governmental organizations which have made a business on promoting instability in Venezuela.

We sincerely hope that President Delcy Rodríguez efforts in improving economy prove to Venezuelan citizens: that it is more profitable to be economically active than just to play as activists for Venezuelan opposition, just for promise of small amounts of reward from non-governmental organizations. However, for Delcy Rodríguez policies to succeed, she needs to make widely available audits and verifications of various statistics. She discloses daily figures without confirmation.

Denmark, Finland, France, Germany, Netherlands, Norway, Sweden and United Kingdom: all of them supported regime change in Venezuela. Therefore, they should deal with regime change in Greenland as well; otherwise they would be incoherent countries. European Union for too long has only dealt with war on Ukraine. They never did anything to save Greenland. Greenland was sought by United States Donald Trump first administration in 2019. Ursula von der Layen and Kaja Kalas had lots of years to address potential seizure of Greenland by United States: but they did not do anything.

All European Union did was to condemn war on Ukraine and to request regime change in Venezuela. So if Europe loses Ukraine and if Europe loses Greenland, Venezuela will cherish it because Europe needs to eat from their own medicine. Arrogance must be stopped. And just like Venezuela, Europe needs to learn to be a vassal of United States. Europe is no longer independent. They must obey everything United States tells them to do just as they requested regime change into Venezuela upon United States orders.

Real estate market in Venezuela remains cautious. A lot of people are requesting information on available properties for buy and sale. However, transactions have not been conducted yet. Petroleum producing states such as Anzoátegui, Monagas or Zulia are particularly interesting to watch: as they would become early birds on a potential Venezuelan economic recovery.

Exchange rate differentials in Venezuela continue narrowing. However, they remain significant. There were people who bought one dollar paying 800 bolivars, while market exchange rate has come down to 450 bolivars per dollar. However, official exchange rate is 350 bolivars per dollar. So, there is still a 100 bolivar differential per dollar. Official exchange rate is used for conversions in stores: of prices quoted in dollars but paid in bolivars. While market exchange rate is rate most people use to buy actual dollars for international purchases, as it is difficult to obtain dollars at official exchange rate.

Venezuela's economic recovery will certainly be officialized if new economic policies successfully converge both exchange rates. During late December due to military chaos, there was panic and exchange rates differential was widening. Now in January, economic conditions of country have improved. However, many people are still anxious. Calming down disaster expectations will take additional time.

Presidential elections in Venezuela are scheduled in year 2030. President Delcy Rodríguez will transfer peacefully power to whoever gets elected on a swearing-in ceremony to be conducted at Venezuela's National Assembly: on January 10th, 2031. It is incorrect to assume there will be a transition and early presidential elections: as presidential elections were already conducted in 2024. President Maduro was sworn in 2025 and Delcy Rodríguez is replacing him in 2026 due to Venezuela's Supreme Tribunal of Justice decision. In order to change current Venezuelan stability, United States would need to invade Venezuela by land, which is an expensive and dangerous operation Donald Trump has repeatedly said he will not engage. Captain of United States ship General Ford would like aircraft carrier to be sent back into shore in Norfolk, Virginia, as United States Marine Navy resources are being stretched to the limit.

Opposition parties of Venezuela have many years ahead to regroup: as their prior leadership is exiled. They have left Venezuela. Therefore, Delcy Rodríguez enjoys wide national support with no opposition domestically. Exiles no longer live in country. They are considered part of international community. They are not willing to return to Venezuela. For domestic and local politics, their opinions shall not be considered.

Venezuela is expected to reopen diplomatic relations with Israel. It was unfortunate that former dictator Hugo Chávez broke relations with Israel. It is understandable that Israel has engaged in questionable genocide policies. However, relations between all countries of world should be encouraged. Discrepancies should be dealt at diplomatic level. Foreign Minister of Venezuela, Yván Gil has often spoken harshly against Israel. Moderate sectors of Venezuelan government: such as son of former President Nicolás Maduro, Nicolás Maduro Guerra, have already suggested reopening relations with Israel.

Nicolás Maduro Guerra has served as a minister of religion. He has been seen with authorities of Jewish, Catholic, Protestant and Muslim religions. Abraham accords of interreligious tolerance sought by deputy Nicolas Maduro Guerra should be contrasted with hardline stance of foreign minister Yván Gil. Delcy Rodríguez will need to make a decision of removing foreign minister Yván Gil, just as she has removed other members of administration who have been too harsh and too intolerant to factions they disagree with.

Venezuela's connectivity with international community is guaranteed: by domestic airlines as Laser and Estelar which provide international flights to various countries, as well as international airlines Copa and Wingo operating from airports of Caracas and Maracaibo. Additional air connectivity into Venezuela might be readressed during February, once Notam issued by United States Federal Aviation Authority late last year expires. However, many airlines that chose not to fly into Venezuela at that time: might be in trouble for getting their license reissued. Venezuela might prioritize giving a chance to fresh companies who would like to engage into commercial airline relationship with Venezuela, rather than interference in local politics.

Venezuela's access to credit remains extremely limited. Access to credit cards was void during times of hyperinflation. Most Venezuelans no longer carry a credit card and Venezuelan banking system has challenge of broadening their scope of products and services to Venezuelan consumers. Now Venezuelan banking system will receive fresh supplies of foreign currency coming from petroleum sales conducted by United States.

Natural gas exports into Punta Ballena, Colombia are secured through explorations made by Repsol and ENI. While dragon gas deal into Trinidad & Tobago operated by Shell remains uncertain: due to recent impasse with Prime Minister Kamla Persad Bissessar who promoted regime change in Venezuela, and hosted United States military assets in Trinidad & Tobago.

Reformation of hydrocarbon law in Venezuela will be conducted by Venezuelan National Assembly on Tuesday and Thursday 20th and 22nd of January 2026. This discussion is significant as there are traditional Venezuelan points of view that must be contrasted with expectations from multinational companies who would like to invest in the country. We sincerely hope the debate is fruitful and a common middle ground is acceptable that will accelerate foreign investment in Venezuela's promising petroleum industry. National Assembly debate will concentrate on reforming hydrocarbon law.

Venezuela's access to food remains crucial. Supermarkets are in price discovery mode: as they recently raised prices exorbitantly due to recent exchange rate differential disparities during December. However, now in January exchange rate differential is narrowing. Supermarkets are realizing that reposition cost for new products and raw materials may not be as high. Some permanent discounts are being noticed. It will be interesting to see what will be rate of inflation in January: as some products have increased their price due to rise in official exchange rate, while other products have decreased in price due to decrease in market exchange rate. Conflicting forces are interplaying.

Colombian presidential candidate Abelardo de la Espriella was Alex Saab lawyer. This is a scandal in Colombia. All these women like Paloma Valencia and others who were supposed to be democratic center Uribe candidates have no support. These divisions in Colombian opposition are already being noticed by mainstream television channels: such as Caracol and RCN. Therefore, Ivan Cepeda remains a front runner who would continue legacy of current President Gustavo Petro. Elections in Colombia are usually shorter than in Venezuela and they should occur during middle of this year 2026.

President Gustavo Petro is expected to speak to Donald Trump in March. President Delcy Rodríguez is expected to speak to Donald Trump eventually. It will be interesting to compare situation of Cuba at time President Trump meets with presidents of Colombia and Venezuela: to have a more precise assessment on future of Western Hemisphere.