Overview
- President Trump signed a Jan. 9 national‑emergency order to protect proceeds from Venezuelan oil sales, restricting transfers to authorized cases and describing the funds as sovereign assets held under U.S. management, not subject to private claims.
- The U.S., working with Venezuela’s interim government, seized a tanker that departed without authorization and said the cargo will be sold through transactions involving the United States.
- A U.S. diplomatic delegation visited Caracas on Jan. 9 as officials consider reopening the embassy closed in 2019, and the interim government said it will send a team to the United States to pursue restored ties.
- Trump urged Cuba to “make a deal,” asserted the U.S. would now protect Venezuela and cut off oil and money flows to Havana, and Cuba’s president rejected being told what to do.
- At a White House meeting with executives from roughly 17 oil firms, Trump referenced about $100 billion in potential investment and offered security assurances, while companies voiced caution and he signaled displeasure with ExxonMobil’s stance that investing now is impossible.