Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro’s YouTube channel has been removed, marking a significant escalation in tensions between the United States and Venezuela. The move coincides with recent deployments of American warships and fighter jets to the Southern Caribbean, which has led to increased geopolitical tensions. Google, the parent company of YouTube, has not made any official statement regarding the removal, which is attributed to repeated violations such as misinformation and interference with democratic processes.
Maduro’s channel, which had over 233,000 subscribers, primarily featured his speeches and weekly TV show. The state-run broadcaster Telesur confirmed that the channel is no longer accessible through search results, direct links, or other means. The U.S. and Venezuela have been at odds over Maduro’s re-election and the recent military presence in the Southern Caribbean. Both sides accuse each other of undermining sovereignty and instigating internal conflict. The situation is further complicated by ongoing discussions about potential military action and the pursuit of Maduro for alleged drug trafficking crimes.
Trump has stated he is not seeking regime change in Venezuela but has not ruled out strikes on cartels. The U.S. administration has doubled the reward for Maduro’s arrest to $50 million, citing a 2020 indictment accusing him of conspiring to traffic cocaine. Maduro has dismissed these charges as a coup plot and insists Venezuela has dismantled major drug gangs. The tension between the two nations is expected to continue as both sides remain entrenched in their positions, with the potential for further escalations in the near future.