Caracas: Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro’s YouTube channel, which broadcast speeches and clips from his weekly state TV show on Telesur, has been removed without explanation, as tensions between Caracas and Washington escalate.
Telesur reported on social media platform X that Maduro’s channel, which had over 200,000 subscribers, was eliminated. YouTube typically removes accounts for repeated violations of its community guidelines, including hate speech, misinformation, or content that interferes with democratic processes.
Maduro has faced widespread criticism for allegedly manipulating last year’s presidential election. Opposition activists claim he lost by a landslide, but Venezuela’s election agency never released tally sheets to substantiate his victory.
The removal of the channel coincides with increasingly aggressive US actions against Venezuela related to immigration and drug trafficking. In a September 6 letter to US President Donald Trump, Maduro denied that Venezuela played a major role in drug trafficking, claiming that only 5 percent of Colombian drugs pass through the country and that Venezuelan authorities neutralised 70 percent of that amount.
Maduro stated that, “President, I hope that together we can defeat the falsehoods that have sullied our relationship, which must be historic and peaceful.” Tensions have intensified following US strikes on vessels alleged to be transporting drugs. In an operation, the Trump administration claimed to have targeted the Tren de Aragua gang, and 11 people were killed. Analysts have questioned the claims, suggesting some victims may not have been involved in drug trafficking, raising concerns over potential extrajudicial killings.
A third US strike on a ship allegedly carrying illicit narcotics killed at least three people. Washington has deployed seven warships, a nuclear-powered submarine, and F-35 stealth fighters to international waters off Venezuela, supported by additional F-35s stationed in Puerto Rico—the largest US naval deployment in the Caribbean.
Trump insists the military operations target drug trafficking, but has not provided evidence that the vessels attacked were engaged in such activity. He also warned Venezuela of incalculable consequences if the country does not immediately repatriate migrants he described as prisoners and people from mental institutions.
Maduro maintains that the US seeks to remove him from power, despite Trump asserting that regime change is not a priority. Last month, however, the US doubled the reward for information on Maduro to $50 million, accusing him of drug trafficking and ties to criminal organisations.
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