US to Control Venezuelan Oil Sales Indefinitely, Tankers Seized

#VenezuelanOil #USSanctions #GlobalPolitics US to control Venezuelan oil sales indefinitely as proceeds are placed in US-controlled accounts, according to the US Department of Energy. US special forces also seized two Venezuela-linked vessels, including the Russian-flagged Marinera and the Panama-flagged M Sophia, for allegedly breaching sanctions. The United States says it will control the sale of Venezuelan oil indefinitely and decide how the proceeds from those sales are used, as President Donald Trump’s administration moves to consolidate control over Venezuela following the abduction of Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro. US officials say the first oil sales will begin immediately and are expected to involve between 30 and 50 million barrels. The US Department of Energy said on Wednesday that it had begun marketing Venezuelan oil on global markets. The department said all proceeds from the sales will first settle in US-controlled accounts at globally recognized banks, and that those funds will be disbursed for the benefit of the American people and the Venezuelan people at the discretion of the US government. The department said the sales begin immediately with an anticipated sale of approximately 30 to 50 million barrels and will continue indefinitely. President Trump has refused to put a timeline on how long the United States plans to dictate decisions in Venezuela, and he was quoted by The New York Times saying, “Only time will tell,” adding that the period would be “much longer.” Secretary of State Marco Rubio has said the United States will initially take between 30 and 50 million barrels of oil from Venezuela and has described a three-phased plan beginning with oil sales and profits dispersed in a way that benefits Venezuelans and the United States, before giving US and other companies access to the market. The script also cites opposition from some members of Congress, particularly Democrats, and quotes Senator Chris Murphy calling the plan “insane.” The report also details sanctions enforcement at sea. US special forces seized the Russian-flagged Marinera in the Atlantic Ocean after pursuing it for weeks and seized the Panama-flagged M Sophia in international waters near the Caribbean. US Secretary of Homeland Security Kristi Noem said both ships were either last docked in Venezuela or en route to it. China’s Foreign Ministry called the seizures a serious violation of international law, and Russia accused the United States of violating international law after the Marinera seizure. The script further references regional developments in Colombia, including the deployment of about 30,000 troops to Colombia’s eastern border with Venezuela across more than 2,000 kilometres, and it notes political tensions involving Colombian President Gustavo Petro and President Trump. It also includes oil market figures, with Brent at $60.34 a barrel and US West Texas Intermediate at $56.36 by 01:04 GMT, and references Morgan Stanley’s estimate of a potential surplus of as much as 3 million barrels per day in the first half of 2026. Stay informed with verified updates. US control of Venezuelan oil, Venezuelan oil sales indefinitely, US Department of Energy marketing Venezuelan oil, proceeds in US-controlled accounts, 30 to 50 million barrels Venezuela oil, Trump Venezuela oil comments, Marco Rubio Venezuela oil plan, three-phased plan Venezuelan oil, PDVSA control reports, Marinera tanker seized, M Sophia supertanker seized, US special forces sanctions enforcement, Venezuela-linked vessels seized, China Foreign Ministry international law, Mao Ning sanctions statement, Russia accuses US international law, Colombia troops eastern border Venezuela, 30,000 troops Colombia border, ELN rebels cross-border groups, Gustavo Petro White House meeting arrangements, Karoline Leavitt interim authorities dictated, Brent crude 60.34 at 01:04 GMT, WTI 56.36 at 01:04 GMT, Morgan Stanley surplus 2026, Venezuelan proven oil reserves 303 billion barrels, World Gold Council Venezuela gold 161.2 tonnes