Trump Announces Venezuelan Oil Transfer as U.S. Raid Captures Maduro, Sparks Regional Fallout
Updated (3 articles)
Trump Announces Venezuelan Oil Transfer and Economic Rationale President Donald Trump declared that Venezuela will supply the United States with 30 million to 50 million barrels of crude at market price, insisting that proceeds will benefit the peoples of both nations and framing the deal as economic relief and a step toward opening Venezuela’s energy sector to U.S. interests[1][2][3].
White House Engages Major U.S. Oil Companies on Venezuela The administration scheduled a Friday meeting with executives from ExxonMobil, Chevron and ConocoPhillips to discuss how American firms might gain technical access and investment opportunities in Venezuela’s struggling oil fields, signaling a push to translate the announced transfer into longer‑term commercial engagement[1][2][3].
U.S. Raid Captures Maduro, Leaves Dozens Dead A predawn U.S. operation seized Nicolás Maduro, killing at least 24 Venezuelan security officers according to Caracas officials and 32 Cuban military and police personnel as confirmed by Havana, while Venezuela’s attorney general labeled the deaths a potential war crime and acting president Delcy Rodríguez vowed divine judgment against U.S. threats[1][2][3].
U.S. Service Member Injuries and Ongoing Recovery The Pentagon reported seven U.S. service members wounded in the raid; five have returned to duty while two remain in recovery, sustaining gunshot and shrapnel injuries[1][2][3].
Valuation, Domestic Opinion, and Regional Diplomatic Reactions Valued at roughly $56 per barrel, the 30‑50 million‑barrel shipment could be worth up to $2.8 billion, equivalent to about two‑and‑a‑half days of U.S. oil consumption; a King5‑cited poll shows the American public split roughly 40 % for and 40 % against the raid, while the same source notes diplomatic complaints from Colombia and defensive statements from Denmark and European leaders, highlighting broader international tension[2][2].
Sources (3 articles)
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[1]
WBNS: Trump says Venezuela will provide 30–50 million barrels of oil, while U.S. raid that captured Maduro sparks deadly fallout: details Trump’s oil pledge, the White House‑industry meeting, casualty figures from Venezuela, Cuba, and the U.S., and the $2.8 billion valuation, noting domestic division over the raid.
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[2]
King5: Trump says Venezuela will provide 30–50 million barrels of oil; White House meets U.S. oil executives as deadly raid that captured Maduro sparks global fallout: adds poll data on U.S. public opinion, mentions Denmark’s defense of Greenland, Colombia’s formal complaint, and broader diplomatic backlash alongside the core oil and casualty facts.
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[3]
AP: Trump says Venezuela will provide 30–50 million barrels of oil to U.S., pledges proceeds to benefit both countries: focuses on the oil announcement, the upcoming meeting with Exxon, Chevron and ConocoPhillips, Venezuelan and Cuban casualty reports, Delcy Rodríguez’s response, and the gap between Venezuela’s reserves and current production.
Timeline
Jan 5‑6 2026 – U.S. special‑operations forces launch a predawn raid in Venezuela, capture President Nicolás Maduro and leave at least 24 Venezuelan security officers dead; Cuban authorities later confirm 32 of their military and police personnel are killed, and the Pentagon reports seven U.S. service members wounded, five of whom have already returned to duty[1].
Jan 6 2026 – President Donald Trump declares that “Venezuela will provide 30 – 50 million barrels of oil to the United States” and pledges that the proceeds will “benefit the people” of both countries, framing the shipment as both economic relief and a gateway for U.S. firms into Venezuela’s oil sector[1][2][3].
Jan 6 2026 – Acting President Delcy Rodríguez rebuffs Trump’s warnings, telling critics, “My destiny is not determined by them, but by God,” and vows to resist U.S. intimidation, underscoring Caracas’s defiant stance after the raid[1][2][3].
Jan 6 2026 – The White House announces a Friday (Jan 9) meeting with executives from ExxonMobil, Chevron and ConocoPhillips to discuss how American companies might expand involvement in Venezuela’s oil industry, signaling a push to translate the announced oil transfer into longer‑term commercial engagement[1][2][3].
Jan 6 2026 – Analysts calculate the oil transfer could be worth up to $2.8 billion at roughly $56 a barrel, equal to about two‑and‑a‑half days of U.S. oil consumption, while noting Venezuela’s output remains near 1 million barrels per day despite holding the world’s largest proven crude reserves[1][3].
Jan 6 2026 – A Washington Post/SSRS poll shows the American public split on the operation: roughly 40 % approve of the Maduro capture, a similar share oppose it, and 45 % reject U.S. control over Venezuela’s government; meanwhile, Maduro pleads not guilty to U.S. drug‑trafficking charges in federal court[3].
Jan 7 2026 – Regional fallout escalates as Colombia files a formal complaint over U.S. threats, European leaders join Denmark in defending Greenland’s sovereignty, and Cuba mourns its 32 fallen personnel, highlighting the broader diplomatic reverberations of the raid and oil announcement[3].