Washington DC / Caracas, January 8: The United States has asserted decisive control over Venezuela’s political and energy landscape following a large-scale military operation in Caracas that led to the arrest of former president Nicolas Maduro and his wife, Cilia Flores, and the subsequent release of millions of barrels of sanctioned Venezuelan crude to the US.
White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt said on Wednesday that Washington remains in “close correspondence” with Venezuela’s interim authorities and holds “maximum leverage” over their decisions, particularly concerning oil supplies. She confirmed that the interim government has agreed to release between 30 and 50 million barrels of sanctioned crude oil for shipment to the United States.
“This was the sanctioned oil that was basically just sitting in barrels and ships due to the effective quarantine,” Leavitt said, adding that the oil is expected to reach American shores “very soon.”
Maduro Arrest and Political Transition
The developments follow a US-led operation carried out in the early hours of January 3 in Caracas, during which Maduro and Flores were captured and flown out of Venezuela in a joint intelligence and law-enforcement mission. The couple has been indicted in the Southern District of New York on charges of drug trafficking and narco-terrorism conspiracies and is currently being held at the Metropolitan Detention Centre in Brooklyn. Both have pleaded not guilty.
Following their removal, Delcy Rodriguez, Venezuela’s former vice president under Maduro, assumed the role of acting president. However, her legitimacy remains widely contested domestically and internationally.
Oil Deal and Sanctions Rollback
Confirming the oil arrangement, Leavitt said the deal was brokered directly by US President Donald Trump and his team and is intended to benefit both countries. The US Department of Energy later issued a fact sheet outlining a broader energy initiative, which includes selectively rolling back sanctions to allow Venezuelan crude to be marketed globally.
Under the agreement:
- Oil sale proceeds will be deposited into US-controlled accounts at internationally recognised banks.
- The US will supply light crude diluent to help Venezuela process its heavy oil for transport and sale.
- Only authorised channels consistent with US law and national security will be permitted to handle Venezuelan oil.
President Trump stated that while the oil will be sold at market prices, the funds will remain under US control to ensure they are used “for the benefit of the people of Venezuela and the United States.”
Rodriguez Rejects US Control Claims
Acting President Delcy Rodriguez rejected US assertions of overseeing a political transition in Venezuela, insisting that the country is governed solely by Venezuelans.
“The Government of Venezuela governs our country, no one else. There are no external agents governing Venezuela,” Rodriguez said in remarks broadcast on state television.
She also announced seven days of national mourning to honour those killed during the US military operation in Caracas and called for the return of Maduro and Flores.
However, opposition leader and Nobel laureate Maria Corina Machado accused Rodriguez of corruption, involvement in torture, and maintaining close ties with Iran and Russia, alleging that she lacks both domestic and international legitimacy.
US-Led Transition Oversight
US President Trump has named Secretary of State Marco Rubio, Secretary of War Pete Hegseth, and migration and security adviser Stephen Miller to oversee what he described as Venezuela’s “transition process.” Trump has claimed that Rodriguez is cooperating with US authorities, a claim she has publicly denied.
The unfolding situation marks one of the most significant shifts in US-Venezuela relations in decades, with Washington now exercising direct influence over Venezuela’s political leadership and vast oil resources.(ANI)
589 words, 3 minutes read time.
About The Author
