Overview
- President Trump told the New York Times the United States could direct Venezuela’s affairs for "much longer" than a year following Maduro’s capture.
- Trump promoted a plan for the U.S. to sell 30–50 million barrels of Venezuelan crude with proceeds under American control, while PDVSA says terms are still being negotiated.
- Energy Secretary Chris Wright said Washington will market stored Venezuelan oil first and then manage ongoing production indefinitely, routing revenues into U.S.-controlled accounts.
- PDVSA confirmed negotiations with the United States on crude sales, and the White House scheduled a Friday meeting with Exxon Mobil, ConocoPhillips and Chevron on rebuilding output.
- U.S. authorities said they seized two tankers linked to Venezuelan shipments as international bodies and lawmakers pressed legal challenges and disputed casualty figures from the raid.