Venezuela: Rodriguez 'open' to oil deal as US seizes tankers
Published January 7, 2026last updated January 8, 2026
What you need to know
- Venezuela's acting president said she was 'open to energy relations' with the US despite 'a stain on our relations'
- US President Donald Trump announced the Venezuela could only purchase US good with oil proceeds
- US forces seized two Russian-flagged oil tankers linked to Venezuelan oil
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Trump previously said Venezuela's interim government would hand over up to 50 million barrels of oil to the US
These updates are closed. Below are developments on US operations against Venezuela from Wednesday, 7 January, 2026:
Death toll from US attack on Venezuela climbs past 100
At least 100 people were killed in the US attack on Venezuela last weekend, according to the latest figures from Venezuela's Interior Ministry.
Venezuela previously confirmed the deaths of 24 soldiers who, while Cuba also confirmed the deaths of 32 troops who were stationed in Caracas at the time.
"So far — and I mean so far — there are 100 dead and a similar number of wounded. The attack on our country was terrible," Interior Minister Diosdado Cabello said on state television.
He did not clarify whether the increased death toll included more soldiers or civilians.
Cabello added that Maduro suffered a leg injury and his wife a head injury when they were kidnapped by US forces. They were now "recovering," Cabello said.
Venezuela 'open to energy relations' with US — acting president Rodriguez
Venezuela's acting president Delcy Rodriguez said her country was open to trading oil with the United States in the wake of the raid that toppled and captured Venezuelan leader Nicolas Maduro.
"There is a stain on our relations such as had never occurred in our history," Rodriguez said late on Wednesday in a meeting with leaders of the national assembly.
But she said it was "not unusual or irregular" to trade with the US after Trump announced a plan to acquire and sell up to 50 million barrels of sanctioned Venezuelan oil.
Rodriguez added: "Venezuela is open to energy relations where all parties benefit."
Vance says US can control Venezuela through its oil revenues
US Vice President JD Vance said in an interview the United States can "control" Venezuela's "purse strings" by overseeing its oil revenues.
"We control the energy resources, and we tell the regime, you're allowed to sell the oil so long as you serve America’s national interest, you're not allowed to sell it if you can't serve America's national interest," Vance said in an interview with FOX News.
"And that's how we exert incredible pressure on that country without wasting a single American life," he added.
Excerpts from the interview were released prior to its airing.
Venezuela to buy only US goods with proceeds from oil sale — Trump
US President Donald Trump announced that Venezuela has agreed to use the proceeds from the sale of its oil exclusively to purchase American-made goods.
"I have just been informed that Venezuela is going to be purchasing ONLY American-made products, with the money they receive from our new oil deal," Trump wrote on his Truth Social network.
According to the post, these purchases will include agricultural products, medicine, medical devices, and equipment to improve the electricity grid and energy facilities.
"In other words, Venezuela is committing to doing business with the United States of America as their principal partner," Trump added, calling it "a wise choice, and a very good thing for the people of Venezuela, and the United States."
Earlier on Wednesday, the US Department of Energy announced that the US is lifting some sanctions on Venezuela, which will allow Venezuelan oil to be transported and sold on the global market. Venezuela's government did not immediately comment on Trump's announcement.
Venezuela buries soldiers killed in US operation to capture Maduro
A mass funeral was held in Caracas, the capital of Venezuela, as the country began to bury dozens of soldiers who were killed during the United States' operation to capture former President Nicolas Maduro.
Men carried wooden caskets draped with the Venezuelan flag past rows of uniformed officers. Family members and soldiers marched behind them.
According to Venezuela's military, at least 24 Venezuelan security officers were killed in a US military operation.
Venezuela's attorney general, Tarek William Saab, said that "dozens" of officers and civilians were killed and that prosecutors would investigate the deaths, which he described as a "war crime."
He did not specify whether his estimate referred only to Venezuelans.
On Sunday, Cuba’s government announced that 32 Cuban military and police officers working in Venezuela had died in the operation, prompting two days of mourning on the Caribbean island.
According to the US military, no American soldiers were killed during the operation that left dozens dead on the Venezuelan side.
Many journalists detained during presidential inauguration in Venezuela
The Committee to Protect Journalists (CPJ) condemned the detention of at least 14 journalists and media workers in Caracas on Monday while they were covering the inauguration ceremony of interim president Delcy Rodriguez.
"These detentions are part of a broader pattern of intimidation aimed at obstructing independent coverage of events of public interest," Cristina Zahar, CPJ Latin America program coordinator, said in a statement.
"Venezuelan authorities must immediately end practices that expose journalists to surveillance and arbitrary detention, and ensure that the press can work safely and without fear," she added.
Venezuela's National Union of Press Workers documented the detention of 13 journalists and media workers affiliated with international media outlets and news agencies, as well as one who worked for a national outlet.
The union documented that security officials searched the equipment of detained journalists and forced them to unlock their phones. The officials then reviewed the journalists' call history, text messages, and activity on messaging platforms and social media.
According to the union, 13 of those detained were released without being formally presented to judicial authorities, and one journalist was deported.
US eases sanctions to allow Venezuelan oil onto global market
The US Department of Energy announced that the US is lifting some sanctions on Venezuela, which will allow Venezuelan oil to be transported and sold on the global market.
However, the department did not specify which sanctions would be lifted or when the changes would take effect. Currently, several oil tankers involved in transporting Venezuelan crude oil are subject to US sanctions.
The Department of Energy also announced that the US has started selling Venezuelan oil. Initially, the proceeds will be deposited in US-controlled accounts at internationally recognized banks, it said in a statement.
Earlier on Wednesday, Energy Secretary Chris Wright said the US will sell Venezuelan oil "indefinitely," after completing sales of the crude currently in storage there.
"We're going to market the crude coming out of Venezuela — first this backed up stored oil, and then indefinitely, going forward, we will sell the production that comes out of Venezuela into the marketplace," Wright said at an energy conference.
On Tuesday, US President Donald Trump unveiled a plan to refine and sell up to 50 million barrels of Venezuelan oil that had been stranded in the country due to a US blockade.
White House says Russian tanker's crew is subject to prosecution
During a press briefing, White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt said that the crew of the Russian-flagged oil tanker that was seized by the United States in the Atlantic is subject to prosecution.
"The vessel had a judicial seizure order... so that means the crew is now subject to prosecution for any applicable violation of federal law, and they will be brought to the United States for such prosecution, if necessary," Leavitt said, adding that "the vessel was deemed stateless after flying a false flag."
She also announced that the United States is selectively rolling back sanctions on Venezuela and that President Donald Trump will meet with US oil executives on Friday to discuss plans for Venezuela's oil sector.
"The meeting is on Friday, and it's just a meeting to discuss, obviously, the immense opportunity that is before these oil companies right now," Leavitt told reporters.
The press secretary also said that the United States has "maximum leverage" over Venezuela's interim authorities, and that it will dictate their decisions following the capture of Maduro.
"We're continuing to coordinate closely with the interim authorities, and their decisions will continue to be dictated by the United States of America," Leavitt said.
Rubio reveals US's three-step plan in Venezuela
US Secretary of State Marco Rubio announced that the United States has a three-step plan for Venezuela.
According to Rubio, the first step is to stabilize the country after capturing Nicolas Maduro. Second, the US will oversee the country's recovery, and, finally, facilitate a transition.
"We don't want it descending into chaos," Rubio said after briefing US senators on the Trump administration's plan for the Latin American country.
"The second phase will be a phase that we call recovery, and that is ensuring that American, Western and other companies have access to the Venezuelan market in a way that's fair," Rubio explained.
"Also, at the same time, begin to create the process of reconciliation nationally within Venezuela, so that the opposition forces can be amnestied and released and from prisons or brought back to the country, and begin to rebuild civil society," Rubio added.
"And then the third phase, of course, will be one of transition," he added.
Moscow demands humane treatment of its citizens aboard seized tanker
The Russian Foreign Ministry said that it is demanding the United States respect the rights of its citizens aboard a seized oil tanker in the Atlantic.
"Given incoming information about the presence of Russian citizens among the crew, we demand that the United States ensure humane and dignified treatment, strictly respect their rights and interests, and not impede their speedy return to their homeland," the ministry said, according to the Russian state news agency TASS.
The statement did not specify how many Russian nationals were aboard the Russian-flagged tanker, which US forces had pursued from the Venezuelan coast.
Britain says it supported US in seizing Russian oil tanker
The UK Ministry of Defense said Britain provided support to the United States in its operation to seize a Russian-flagged oil tanker in the North Atlantic.
In a statement, the ministry said that the British armed forces provided "pre-planned operational support, including basing," in response to a US request for assistance.
According to the ministry, the military vessel provided support for the US forces pursuing the tanker, and the Royal Air Force provided air surveillance.
Defense Secretary John Healey said the operation targeted a vessel "with a nefarious history" linked to Russian and Iranian sanctions-evasion networks.
"This action formed part of global efforts to crack down on sanctions busting," he added.
Germany voices cautious criticism over US actions on Venezuela
Four days after special forces captured Venezuela's authoritarian leader, Nicolas Maduro, and his wife, Cilia Flores, the German government for the first time criticized the US intervention.
On Wednesday, a government spokesman in Berlin said that the US had "failed to convincingly demonstrate to the UN Security Council that its actions (in Venezuela) complied with international law."
"We have noted that the Security Council did not reach a joint assessment" on the classification at the meeting, he said, adding that it "is the current state of affairs as far as the German government is concerned."
During a special meeting of the UN Security Council on Monday, the US defended its actions as a "surgical law enforcement operation" against Maduro, whom the US described as not a legitimate head of state.
Germany initially refrained from condemning the US actions in Venezuela. Chancellor Friedrich Merz said the legal assessment of the operation was "complex" and would take time. He also stressed that Germany had not recognized Maduro's presidency.
Russia slams US seizure of oil tanker as violation of maritime law
Moscow condemned the seizure of a Russian-flagged oil tanker in the Atlantic by the US as a violation of maritime law.
"In accordance with the 1982 UN Convention on the Law of the Sea, freedom of navigation applies in the high seas, and no state has the right to use force against vessels duly registered in the jurisdictions of other states," the Russian Transport Ministry said in a statement.
According to the ministry, the contact with the vessel, the Marinera, was lost after US naval forces boarded it "in the open sea, beyond the territorial waters of any state."
The ministry added that while pursued by US forces off the coast of Venezuela, the vessel changed its name from Bella-1 to Marinera and received "temporary permission" to sail under the Russian flag on December 24.
UK's Starmer pressured on lack of Trump Venezuela contact
The UK's Keir Starmer came under fire at the weekly Prime Minister's Questions session from the opposition leader for failing to brief parliament enough on developments in Venezuela and the wider world since the US capture of Nicolas Maduro.
"The truth is the prime minister does not want everyone in this House to be able to ask him questions," Conservative Party leader Kemi Badenoch alleged.
She noted how Foreign Secretary Yvette Cooper had spent more than two hours briefing the House of Commons on Monday, but claimed Starmer was "scared" to face parliament himself.
Badenoch also said it was "concerning" that Starmer had not had a call with US President Donald Trump, "four days after the events in Venezuela."
"Of course I will speak to President Trump," Starmer said.
"I spoke to his senior advisers yesterday," he continued, in reference to Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner being among the US representatives at a meeting on Ukraine in Paris on Tuesday. "We were with them all day."
He later said that he had spoken with Trump "twice over the Christmas period" on issues like plans to increase British and European defense spending.
US military seizes another 'sanctioned tanker' in the Caribbean
The US military announced it had intercepted a tanker in the Caribbean, marking its second seizure of the day.
US personnel "apprehended a stateless, sanctioned dark fleet motor tanker without incident. The interdicted vessel, M/T Sophia, was operating in international waters and conducting illicit activities in the Caribbean Sea," US Southern Command, which is responsible for the area, said in a post on X.
It posted a video purportedly showing the capture of the Sophia.
It said the Coast Guard is escorting the tanker to the United States.