Overview
- State Department envoys arrived in Caracas to assess a gradual resumption of relations, and the interim government said it will send its own delegation for exploratory talks.
- Trump told oil executives he wants at least $100 billion in private investment and promised “complete security,” saying firms will deal directly with Washington as the U.S. asserts control over sales of 30–50 million barrels of Venezuelan crude.
- Industry caution persisted, with ExxonMobil’s CEO saying Venezuela is not investable without major legal and fiscal changes, even as Repsol and Chevron signaled readiness to expand operations.
- U.S. authorities seized the tanker Oliana carrying Venezuelan crude in the Caribbean, at least the fifth interdiction, while Trump maintained naval pressure despite canceling a planned second wave of attacks.
- Venezuela began limited releases of political prisoners, including Spaniards and opposition figures Enrique Márquez and Biagio Pilieri, as Trump prepared to meet María Corina Machado next week and polling showed strong regional public support for Maduro’s detention outside Mexico.