Senators dismiss economic impact of Maduro ousterMANILA, Philippines — Senators doused fears that the US government’s capture of Venezuelan president Nicolas Maduro has an economic impact, but they said it could trigger geopolitical tensions at the expense of smaller nations like the Philippines. At a press briefing at the Senate on Tuesday, Senate finance committee chair Sherwin Gatchalian said the Philippines and Venezuela have modest trade relations. Oil prices are also not likely to be affected by the US attacks in Venezuela, which has vast yet unutilized oil resources. “This is my personal opinion, but economically there is no impact, because we have little historical trade with Venezuela,” Gatchalian said. “Other countries might be emboldened to do what the US did – a regime change by force that is not done by election.

Source: Philippine Star January 07, 2026 16:32 UTC