US Secretary of Energy Chris Wright announced on January 7 at a conference in Miami that the U.S. administration is working directly with Venezuelan authorities to sell all of the country’s oil independently in the future. Wright stated that this intervention could increase oil production by 900,000 barrels per day and that he is coordinating with American oil companies to establish conditions for their entry into Venezuela, aiming to transfer oil revenues to U.S.-controlled accounts.
President Donald Trump had previously announced on January 6 that Venezuela would transfer between 30 million and 50 million barrels of oil to the United States for market sale. Trump described the oil as “high-quality sanctioned oil” and stated he would personally oversee the revenue.
On January 3, U.S. forces conducted a large-scale strike in Venezuela, capturing President Nicolas Maduro and his wife, Celia Flores. The operation reportedly resulted in a death toll of 80 individuals, including both civilians and military personnel. Venezuela’s interim president Delcy Rodriguez has declared seven days of mourning for the soldiers who died.
Maduro was taken to New York Federal Court on January 5, where he declared his innocence and maintained that he remained Venezuela’s president. The court has scheduled a hearing for March 17.
Meanwhile, UN Secretary General Antonio Guterres stated on January 5 that the United States had violated international law in Venezuela, expressing concern over the country’s future following U.S. military operations.
Additionally, U.S. officials have demanded that Venezuela’s acting leader, Delcy Rodriguez, sever economic ties with China and Russia as a prerequisite for increased oil production.
