The European Union (EU) no longer recognizes Juan Guaidó as head of government. They also do not recognize the legitimacy of Nicolas Maduro. The United States and the United Kingdom still recognize Guaidó.[1]
The Venezuelan government said it "expresses its concern with the acts of violence that are taking [place] in the city of Washington, United States."[2]
January 7 – An Iranian ship arrives at the port of La Guaira in defiance of a boycott by the United States.[3]
January 21 – The European Parliament votes 391 votes in favor, 114 against, and 177 abstentions on a non-binding resolution calling on EU governments to recognize Juan Guaidó as Venezuela's interim president.[7]
February 21 – Two paramilitary groups, Autodefensas Gaitanistas del Cartel del Golfo and Los Rastrojos join forces against the Venezuelan Army (ELN) in Táchira.[12]
February 22 – The EU adds 19 officials to its list of 55 who have been sanctioned for undermining democracy or rights violations.[13]
The government issues three new bills, worth 200,000, 500,000, and 1,000,000 bolivars. The last is worth US$0.52.[15]
President Maduro and First LadyCilia Flores receive their first doses of Russia's Sputnik V COVID-19 vaccine. The country has received 200,000 doses of the Sputnik V vaccine since February 13 and 500,000 doses of China's Sinopharm BIBP vaccine, which arrived this week. The country reports 141,356 cases of COVID-19 and 1,371 deaths, although critics say the actual numbers are much higher.[16]
March 8
The Biden administration grants temporary protected status to 320,000 Venezuelans living in the U.S. This is more encompassing than the deferred deportation temporarily offered to 145,000 Venezuelans by Trump.
March 21 – 2021 Apure clashes: Fighting between FARC and Venezuelan security forces.[18]
March 27 – Facebook freezes President Maduro's account for thirty days after spreading false information about a COVID-19 miracle cure.[19]
March 28 – Juan Guaidó confirms he has tested positive for COVID-19.[20]
April 20 – With over 32.3% of Venezuelans food insecure, the United NationsWorld Food Programme (WFP) gains permission from the Government of Venezuela to feed over 185,000 students by the end of 2021 and 1.5 million students by end of the 2022–2023 school year through nutritious school meals.[21]
Deaths
January and February
3 January – Salvador Franco, Indigenous rights leader; died in prison, tuberculosis.[22]
