U.S. Details Three-Phase Venezuela Strategy as It Begins Marketing Venezuelan Oil

Overview

• Secretary of State Marco Rubio outlined a stabilization–recovery–transition plan and said Washington exerts extensive influence over interim authorities led by Delcy Rodríguez.
• The administration began marketing Venezuelan crude and plans to take 30–50 million barrels, with proceeds held in U.S. accounts; President Trump said Venezuela will use those funds to buy only U.S.-made goods.
• State oil firm PDVSA confirmed negotiations with the United States to sell volumes of crude, describing the talks as a strictly commercial arrangement similar to deals with Chevron.
• The White House said it has maximum leverage over Caracas and reported intercepting a sanctioned tanker in the Atlantic tied to a Venezuelan “ghost fleet.”
• House Speaker Mike Johnson said the United States is not at war and noted the operation was reported under War Powers requirements without needing advance congressional approval.