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

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



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

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?

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

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

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


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

A simple yes or no will suffice.

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


Because I'm curious, of course.

Do you believe maritime law should be followed?

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


Quote:

'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.