Overview
- President Donald Trump said U.S. forces carried out a large strike and captured Nicolás Maduro, while Reuters and Bloomberg sourcing indicated key oil facilities reported no damage and continued operating.
- Shipping data show at least seven Venezuela-bound tankers reversed course or stalled after recent seizures and a blockade, pushing PDVSA to store more crude at sea and shut some wells, with Orinoco output reported down about 25% on Dec. 29.
- Trump said the U.S. will be “very strongly involved” in Venezuela’s oil sector and that the embargo remains in force, signaling a drive to bring American companies into the country’s decayed energy industry.
- Energy analysts expect only a modest risk premium with limited near-term price impact given abundant global supply and Venezuela’s small share of output, with weekend indicators pointing to a minor uptick from roughly $60 a barrel.
- Chevron continues limited operations under a U.S. license as Venezuela denounces the actions as illegal and China issues a condemnation, while casualty figures from prior maritime strikes remain disputed in reports.