Changes

President Chávez has also launched a major renovation of the Venezuelan Armed Forces by purchasing new advanced weaponry. In 2005-06, Venezuela purchased 100,000 AK-103 rifles from Russia and signed an agreement to construct a rifle and ammunition complex . Venezuela has also purchased dozens of Russian attack and transport helicopters, and has begun receiving 24 Russian Sukhoi Su-30MK 2-seat fighters. Venezuela has longstanding border disputes with Colombia-aggravated most recently by the capture of a Colombian insurgent leader inside Venezuela—and Guyana, but seeks in general to resolve them peacefully. Bilateral commissions have been established by Venezuela and Colombia to address a range of pending issues, including resolution of the maritime boundary in the Gulf of Venezuela. Relations with Guyana are complicated by Venezuela's claim to roughly three-quarters of Guyana's territory. Since 1987, the two countries have held exchanges on the boundary under the "good offices" of the United Nations.

President Chávez has also launched a major renovation of the Venezuelan Armed Forces by purchasing new advanced weaponry. In 2005-06, Venezuela purchased 100,000 AK-103 rifles from Russia and signed an agreement to construct a rifle and ammunition complex . Venezuela has also purchased dozens of Russian attack and transport helicopters, and has begun receiving 24 Russian Sukhoi Su-30MK 2-seat fighters. Venezuela has longstanding border disputes with Colombia-aggravated most recently by the capture of a Colombian insurgent leader inside Venezuela—and Guyana, but seeks in general to resolve them peacefully. Bilateral commissions have been established by Venezuela and Colombia to address a range of pending issues, including resolution of the maritime boundary in the Gulf of Venezuela. Relations with Guyana are complicated by Venezuela's claim to roughly three-quarters of Guyana's territory. Since 1987, the two countries have held exchanges on the boundary under the "good offices" of the United Nations.

===Relations with the United States===

====Relations with the United States====

[[File:Hugo Chávez on USS Yorktown 2002.jpg|thumb|Hugo Chávez on USS Yorktown, 2002.]]

[[File:Hugo Chávez on USS Yorktown 2002.jpg|thumb|Hugo Chávez on USS Yorktown, 2002.]]

U.S.-Venezuelan relations have been tense in recent years. President Hugo Chávez continuously defined himself in opposition to the United States, using inflammatory rhetoric to insult [[President George W. Bush]] and senior administration officials. For example, in his September 2006 speech to the [[UN General Assembly]], President Chávez called President Bush "the Devil" and other offensive names. The [[United States]] continued to seek constructive engagement with the Venezuelan Government, focusing on areas of technical cooperation. Major U.S. interests in Venezuela include promotion of U.S. [[export]]s and protection of U.S. investment, preservation of Venezuela's government, closer counter-[[narcotic]]s cooperation, more vigorous efforts on counterterrorism, and continued access to [[petroleum]] imports from Venezuala.  

U.S.-Venezuelan relations have been tense in recent years. President Hugo Chávez continuously defined himself in opposition to the United States, using inflammatory rhetoric to insult [[President George W. Bush]] and senior administration officials. For example, in his September 2006 speech to the [[UN General Assembly]], President Chávez called President Bush "the Devil" and other offensive names. The [[United States]] continued to seek constructive engagement with the Venezuelan Government, focusing on areas of technical cooperation. Major U.S. interests in Venezuela include promotion of U.S. [[export]]s and protection of U.S. investment, preservation of Venezuela's government, closer counter-[[narcotic]]s cooperation, more vigorous efforts on counterterrorism, and continued access to [[petroleum]] imports from Venezuala.  

Approximately 23,000 U.S. citizens living in Venezuela have registered with the U.S. embassy, an estimated three-quarters of them residing in the [[Caracas]] area. An estimated 12,000 U.S. tourists visit Venezuela annually. About 500 U.S. companies are represented in the country.

Approximately 23,000 U.S. citizens living in Venezuela have registered with the U.S. embassy, an estimated three-quarters of them residing in the [[Caracas]] area. An estimated 12,000 U.S. tourists visit Venezuela annually. About 500 U.S. companies are represented in the country.

===[[Islamic Republic of Iran]]'s hands===

====[[Islamic Republic of Iran]]'s hands====

[[Alex Saab|Alex]] “[Saab] was a key figure in the pillaging of the national reserves, profiting off the suffering of the people and increasingly criminalizing and providing those international networks for the Maduro regime.”<ref>[https://www.csis.org/analysis/corruption-venezuela-alex-saab-case Corruption in Venezuela: The Alex Saab Case], CSIS, June 24, 2020</ref>

[[Alex Saab|Alex]] “[Saab] was a key figure in the pillaging of the national reserves, profiting off the suffering of the people and increasingly criminalizing and providing those international networks for the Maduro regime.”<ref>[https://www.csis.org/analysis/corruption-venezuela-alex-saab-case Corruption in Venezuela: The Alex Saab Case], CSIS, June 24, 2020</ref>