Venezuela Live Updates: U.S. Forces Seize Two Tankers; Rubio Lays Out Plan for American Control

The three-part plan unveiled by the secretary of state included Washington managing the interim authorities in Caracas. Earlier, the U.S. forces boarded a Russian-flagged tanker and a second ship.

Hours after the U.S. military seized two oil tankers on Wednesday, including a Russian-flagged vessel, the American secretary of state laid out a plan for Venezuela’s near-future that included the United States maintaining control over interim authorities.

The seizure of the Russian-flagged tanker escalated a confrontation with Moscow after the ouster of its ally, Nicolás Maduro of Venezuela. The U.S. military issued a statement saying that forces had “seized” the vessel in the North Atlantic, between Scotland and Iceland, for violating U.S. sanctions. The ship, which was not carrying oil, had previously tried to sail to Venezuela to pick up crude and had been eluding U.S. forces for more than two weeks.


Russia’s Ministry of Transport confirmed that U.S. forces had boarded the vessel, known until recently as the Bella 1 and now called the Marinera, in international waters. It added in a statement that contact with the ship had been lost.

The military later said, in a separate statement, that it had “apprehended a stateless, sanctioned dark fleet motor tanker,” the M Sophia, in international waters in the Caribbean, where it was “conducting illicit activities,” and the ship was being escorted to the United States.

In Washington, Secretary of State Marco Rubio outlined a three-step plan for Venezuela, insisting to reporters that the administration was “not just winging it.” It included stabilizing the country by seizing and selling some 30 million to 50 million barrels of oil — with the U.S., not interim Venezuelan leadership, controlling how the money would be dispersed.

The second step was to ensure that “American, Western and other companies have access to the Venezuelan market in a way that’s fair.” The third step, which he did not elaborate on, is “one of transition” and includes the integration of opposition parties.

“We feel like we’re moving forward here in a very positive way,” he added.

Later Monday, Venezuela’s state-run oil company, Petróleos de Venezuela, confirmed for the first time that it was negotiating the “sale” of crude oil to the United States. It said in a statement on social media that it was using “frameworks similar to those currently in effect with international companies, such as Chevron, and is based on a strictly commercial transaction.”

The White House press secretary, Karoline Leavitt, asked whether and how the U.S. will “run” Venezuela as President Trump has vowed, told reporters that the Trump administration was “in close coordination with” Venezuela’s interim authorities, and that “their decisions are going to be dictated by the United States of America.”

Here’s what else to know:

    The Russian-flagged tanker: The Marinera had been sailing on a northeasterly heading with its location transponder active, according to ship-tracking data from MarineTraffic. Its destination was unknown, but it could have been headed to Russian ports on the Baltic Sea or the Arctic.

    Venezuelan oil: If the U.S. seizes 30 million to 50 million barrels of oil — about two months’ worth of production — Venezuela would be handing over $1.8 billion to $3 billion worth of oil to the United States. It is unclear whether it would receive anything in return. A partial blockade by the United States has curtailed Venezuela’s energy exports, a vital source of revenue.

    Classified briefing: On Capitol Hill, senators attended the first classified briefing by top Trump administration officials for the full Senate on the U.S. raid in Venezuela. “There are many unanswered questions,” Senator Chuck Schumer, the Democratic minority leader, said as he headed into the briefing.

    Crackdown in Venezuela: Armed government militias, known as colectivos, have been out in full force on the streets of Caracas, the capital, in recent days. Some citizens said the colectivos had been interrogating people and searching their phones for signs of support for the U.S. attacks.

https://www.nytimes.com/live/2026/01/07/world/venezuela-us-trump

No good?

Enforcing the rules is no good??

Frank wrote on Jan 8^th, 2026 at 7:16am:

No good? Enforcing the rules is no good??

What rules, in your febrile mind, is Trump following here?

mothra wrote on Jan 8^th, 2026 at 7:18am:

Frank wrote on Jan 8th, 2026 at 7:16am: No good? Enforcing the rules is no good?? What rules, in your febrile mind, is Trump following here?

I was about to ask the same question.

This should be good - Frank will either reply with personal abuse, or abandon the thread.

I'm wondering why they weren't able to seize it in the Caribbean like they did the other one. Why/how was it able to avoid being boarded until it was in the North Atlantic?

greggerypeccary wrote on Jan 8^th, 2026 at 7:19am:

mothra wrote on Jan 8th, 2026 at 7:18am: Frank wrote on Jan 8th, 2026 at 7:16am: No good? Enforcing the rules is no good?? What rules, in your febrile mind, is Trump following here? I was about to ask the same question. This should be good - Frank will either reply with personal abuse, or abandon the thread.

He took option b - abandon the thread.

mothra wrote on Jan 8^th, 2026 at 7:18am:

Frank wrote on Jan 8th, 2026 at 7:16am: No good? Enforcing the rules is no good?? What rules, in your febrile mind, is Trump following here?

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/United_States_sanctions_during_the_Venezuelan_crisis

"Marinera" isn't a Russian ship.

"Marinera" requested permission to raise the Russian flag TEMPORARILY—that's what the Mortrans document states.
Renaming a vessel and re-registering it at sea is illegal under maritime law. All this must occur in port.

http://www.mortrans.ru/index_en.html

tallowood wrote on Jan 8^th, 2026 at 9:38am:

"Marinera" isn't a Russian ship. "Marinera" requested permission to raise the Russian flag TEMPORARILY—that's what the Mortrans document states. Renaming a vessel and re-registering it at sea is illegal under maritime law. All this must occur in port. http://www.mortrans.ru/index_en.html

Excuse I, Tallowood. Are you saying maritime law should be obeyed?

A simple yes or no will suffice.

Karnal wrote on Jan 8^th, 2026 at 10:00am:

tallowood wrote on Jan 8th, 2026 at 9:38am: "Marinera" isn't a Russian ship. "Marinera" requested permission to raise the Russian flag TEMPORARILY—that's what the Mortrans document states. Renaming a vessel and re-registering it at sea is illegal under maritime law. All this must occur in port. http://www.mortrans.ru/index_en.html Excuse I, Tallowood. Are you saying maritime law should be obeyed? A simple yes or no will suffice.

Why do you want to know?
Please limit your answer to 500 characters.

tallowood wrote on Jan 8^th, 2026 at 10:05am:

Karnal wrote on Jan 8th, 2026 at 10:00am: tallowood wrote on Jan 8th, 2026 at 9:38am: "Marinera" isn't a Russian ship. "Marinera" requested permission to raise the Russian flag TEMPORARILY—that's what the Mortrans document states. Renaming a vessel and re-registering it at sea is illegal under maritime law. All this must occur in port. http://www.mortrans.ru/index_en.html Excuse I, Tallowood. Are you saying maritime law should be obeyed? A simple yes or no will suffice. Why do you want to know? Please limit your answer to 500 characters.

Because I'm curious, of course.

Do you believe maritime law should be followed?

Frank wrote on Jan 8^th, 2026 at 7:16am:

Enforcing the rules is no good??

1. US rules the planet.
2. Israel rules the planet.
3. Enquiries to DJ Trump, CEO.

chimera wrote on Jan 8^th, 2026 at 10:19am:

1. US rules the planet. 2. Israel rules the planet. 3. Enquiries to DJ Trump, CEO.

Quote:

Here is an old joke. A Jew is reading a Nazi newspaper. His friend asks him why and he says something like, “When I read the normal newspaper, it’s all doom and gloom. But when I read the Nazi paper, we Jews are doing really well! We own Hollywood, we control the media and we are all rich doctors, lawyers and bankers.”

(hey tallowood..hey
Israel rules because Trump says so..

is good Yiddish joke, ha?)

'I am pleased to announce that the Interim Authorities in Venezuela will be turning over between 30 and 50 MILLION Barrels of High Quality, Sanctioned Oil, to the United States of America,' Mr Trump announced on Truth Social.'This Oil will be sold at its Market Price, and that money will be controlled by me, as President of the United States of America, a major organised crime'. 

Nazi Germany systematically looted an immense amount of wealth, including gold, currency, art, and personal assets from both occupied nations and victims of the Holocaust. While the exact total is impossible to determine due to the secretive nature of the thefts and incomplete records, the value in today's terms is estimated in the hundreds of billions of dollars, but Adolf was not a Trump.

mothra wrote on Jan 8^th, 2026 at 7:18am:

Frank wrote on Jan 8th, 2026 at 7:16am: No good? Enforcing the rules is no good?? What rules, in your febrile mind, is Trump following here?

I'm the captain now, Russian.

https://pbs.twimg.com/media/G-ErUCdWIAMu46-?.jpg

Responding to Trump capturing oil tankers off Venezuela Kamala Harris broke her silence and ask "why are they not capturing tankers that have wine," she slurred. "A tanker is a tanker you see and a tanker full of oil is a oil tanker, but a tanker full of wine is devine, cackle cackle". Pelosi said something but she had the mic upside down and then thought it was karaoke and started singing before falling down and calling for tequila shots for everyone.