2025 – President Trump issues an executive order directing the Interior Department to eliminate any content that “inappropriately disparages” American history, a move that later fuels a lawsuit over the removal of a slavery exhibit at the President’s House Site. [1]

2025 – Iran and Israel fight a 12‑day war, an episode the Iranian Revolutionary Guard Corps cites when warning of “immediate and powerful” retaliation to any U.S. aggression. [2]

Jan 3, 2026 – U.S. forces carry out a raid in Venezuela that removes Nicolás Maduro; Secretary of State Marco Rubio later describes the operation as a national‑security win that eliminates a major regional threat. [3]

Jan 6, 2026 – Rubio and senior officials brief congressional leaders on the surprise Venezuela operation, prompting a two‑hour closed‑door session that highlights a clash between the administration’s expansionist push and legislative oversight. [4]

Jan 6, 2026 – Republican lawmakers largely endorse the raid, while Democratic members demand detailed answers on objectives, costs and long‑term strategy. [4]

Jan 6, 2026 – The Senate drafts a war‑powers resolution to bar any further U.S. military action in Venezuela without explicit congressional approval, scheduling a vote for later that week. [4]

Jan 6, 2026 – House Speaker Mike Johnson tells reporters, “We don’t expect troops on the ground,” framing the operation as coercion of Venezuela’s new leadership rather than occupation. [4]

Jan 6, 2026 – Lawmakers press officials on who now governs Venezuela after Maduro’s removal, noting the interim presidency of Delcy Rodríguez and the marginalization of opposition leader María Corina Machado. [4]

Jan 27, 2026 – A Satena Airlines flight carrying 15 passengers disappears over the mountainous Venezuela‑Colombia border, triggering a large‑scale search by Colombian military and aviation authorities. [2]

Jan 28, 2026 – President Donald Trump posts on Truth Social that a “massive Armada” led by the USS Abraham Lincoln is moving toward Iran and threatens “far worse” strikes if Tehran refuses a nuclear deal. [2][1]

Jan 28, 2026 – In Senate testimony, Rubio warns the United States is prepared to use force in Venezuela again if the interim authorities stray from U.S. expectations and schedules a meeting that afternoon with opposition leader María Corina Machado. [2]

Jan 28, 2026 – U.S. Central Command launches multi‑day aerial drills across the CENTCOM area of responsibility to demonstrate resolve against a potential Iranian threat. [2]

Jan 28, 2026 – Iran’s IRGC and Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi declare they have “fingers on the trigger” and stand ready to respond “immediately and powerfully” to any U.S. aggression, citing lessons from the 2025 Iran‑Israel war. [2]

Jan 28, 2026 – France’s foreign minister announces that EU foreign ministers will meet in Brussels to consider adding the IRGC to the EU terrorist list and to approve new sanctions on Iran. [2]

Jan 28, 2026 – Rubio tells the Senate Foreign Relations Committee that Iran’s situation is far more complex than Venezuela’s and that the administration will “very quickly” open a diplomatic presence in Venezuela, led by former ambassador Laura Dogu, first operating from Bogotá and later moving to Caracas. [1][2]

Jan 28, 2026 – Rubio unveils a short‑term financing tool that channels proceeds from sanctioned Venezuelan oil sold at market rates into a Treasury‑controlled account to fund policing, sanitation and health services, with monthly budget reviews by the United States. [1]

Jan 28, 2026 – Rubio reports that technical‑level talks with Greenland and Denmark are “in a good place” and begin “today,” aiming for a mutually beneficial outcome without the use of force. [1]

Jan 28, 2026 – Pennsylvania Governor Josh Shapiro files a brief supporting Philadelphia’s lawsuit over the National Park Service’s removal of a slavery exhibit, calling the action “whitewashing” and linking it to the 2025 executive order. [1]

Jan 28, 2026 – Rubio defends the Jan 3 raid as a security success and says the United States will work with interim Venezuelan authorities to stabilize the country. [3]

Jan 28, 2026 – Rubio announces that sales of previously sanctioned Venezuelan oil may resume under U.S. oversight, with proceeds held in a Treasury account and released only after Washington approves monthly budgets for policing and health‑care. [3]

Jan 28, 2026 – Rubio states the United States will not conduct further military action in Venezuela absent an imminent threat. [3]

Jan 28, 2026 – Rubio says tensions over Greenland within NATO are easing, that talks are underway, and that NATO “needs to be reimagined.” [3]

Jan 28, 2026 – Rubio notes that China’s goal to reunify Taiwan and the U.S. stance toward Iran remain unchanged, with recent carrier deployments intended solely as deterrence. [3]

Jan 28, 2026 – The State Department plans to send additional diplomatic and support personnel to Caracas and is considering reopening the U.S. embassy, steps toward normalizing ties with Venezuela. [3]

Early 2026 – The EU foreign ministers’ Brussels meeting is expected to decide on the IRGC terrorist designation within weeks of the Jan 28 statements. [2]

Early 2026 – The war‑powers resolution introduced on Jan 6 is slated for a Senate vote later in the week, potentially constraining further U.S. military actions in Venezuela. [4]

Early 2026 – The “very quickly” opening of the Venezuela Affairs Unit and its relocation from Bogotá to Caracas is anticipated to occur in the coming months. [1]