US seizes two tankers as Trump widens oil grab and declares Venezuela will acquire American goods with proceeds from oil sale – live

Trumps declares Venezuela will ‘only’ acquire US goods with proceeds from oil sale under new deal

Donald Trump has stated in a post on his Truth Social platform that Venezuela will be purchasing American-created products with the money they receive from the new deal arranged with his administration.

I have just been informed that Venezuela is going to be purchasing ONLY American Made Products, with the money they receive from our new Oil Deal. These purchases will include, among other things, American Agricultural Products, and American Made Medicines, Medical Devices, and Equipment to improve Venezuela’s Electric Grid and Energy Facilities.

In other words, Venezuela is committing to doing business with the United States of America as their principal partner — A wise choice, and a very good thing for the people of Venezuela, and the United States.

Key events

Starmer raises Greenland in call with Trump

Keir Starmer spoke with Donald Trump on Wednesday evening and set out his position on Greenland, the UK government stated.

Both leaders also discussed the joint operation to intercept the Marinera tanker, recent progress on Ukraine and the US operation in Venezuela, stated the statement, cited by Reuters.

Starmer had earlier stated he stood with Denmark in its defence of Greenland and that no one else should determine the future of the vast territory after Trump stated he necessaryed it for defence.

Colombia warns of regional ‘catastrophe’ after Washington’s Venezuela attack

The US military strike on Venezuela that deposed its leader Nicolás Maduro could ripple out into a “catastrophe” for the whole of South America, Colombia’s deputy foreign minister has stated.

“If there is a major humanitarian crisis, the impact, the devastation will be unstoppable … We are talking about a catastrophe that Latin America has never seen,” Mauricio Jaramillo informed Agence France-Presse in an interview in Boobtainedá on Wednesday.

Colombia shares a porous 2,200km (1,370-mile) border with Venezuela and has been the major recipient of migrants fleeing the economic and political crisis there.

Jaramillo stated Colombia could never be “fully prepared in the event there is a degradation brought about by war”, especially at a time Latin America is split on Donald Trump’s actions.

Mauricio Jaramillo talking to reporters in Boobtainedá this week. Photograph: Carlos Ortega/EPA

Rightwing governments in Argentina and Ecuador have backed Maduro’s ouster but leftists in Brazil, Mexico, Colombia and others have firmly condemned it.

Jaramillo stated:

That division obviously undermines a regional solution … Without shared premises and minimum consensus, it’s obviously very difficult to respond at the regional level.

He added that a US military attack on Colombia seemed “unlikely” but that the counattempt would have a “legitimate” response if necessaryed.

Colombia and its first-ever leftist president, Gustavo Petro, have consistently criticised Washington’s mass naval deployment in South America, its bombing of alleged drug-smuggling boats, seizure of Venezuelan oil tankers and Saturday’s capture of Maduro.

The censure from Boobtaineda has irritated Trump, who has accapplyd Petro of being a drug baron – which Petro denies – and warned him on Saturday to “watch his ass”.

Trump signs proclamation withdrawing from international organizations, White Hoapply declares

Donald Trump has also signed a proclamation withdrawing the United States from 35 non-United Nations organizations and 31 UN entities that “operate contrary to US national interests”, the White Hoapply stated in a statement.

It did not list the organizations, but stated they promote “radical climate policies, global governance, and ideological programs that conflict with US sovereignty and economic strength”.

It stated the relocate was the result of a review of all international intergovernmental organizations, conventions and treaties that the US is a member of or party to, per Reuters.

“These withdrawals will finish American taxpayer funding and involvement in entities that advance globalist agfinishas over US priorities, or that address important issues inefficiently or ineffectively such that US taxpayer dollars are best allocated in other ways to support the relevant missions,” the White Hoapply stated.

Since launchning his second term a year ago, Trump has sought to slash US funding for the UN, finished US engagement with the UN Human Rights Council, extfinished a halt to funding for the Palestinian relief agency UNRWA and quit the UN cultural agency UNESCO. He has also announced plans to quit the World Health Organization and the Paris climate agreement.

Trumps declares Venezuela will ‘only’ acquire US goods with proceeds from oil sale under new deal

I have just been informed that Venezuela is going to be purchasing ONLY American Made Products, with the money they receive from our new Oil Deal. These purchases will include, among other things, American Agricultural Products, and American Made Medicines, Medical Devices, and Equipment to improve Venezuela’s Electric Grid and Energy Facilities.

In other words, Venezuela is committing to doing business with the United States of America as their principal partner — A wise choice, and a very good thing for the people of Venezuela, and the United States.

The day so far

The US seized two sanctioned oil tankers linked to Venezuela in two separate missions in the North Atlantic and the Caribbean.
After a two-week pursuit, US forces boarded the Russian-flagged Marinera – originally known as the Bella 1 – over alleged sanctions violations, in a high-stakes operation that could risk confrontation with the Kremlin after Moscow reportedly dispatched a submarine to safeguard the vessel.
The UK confirmed it provided assistance for the seizure of the Marinera, with the RAF providing extra surveillance and navy refuelling while capture under way. The UK argued the operation was legal and justified becaapply the “stateless” vessel had breached US sanctions on Iran. The UK’s support was “in full compliance with international law”, defence secretary John Healey stated.
However, Russia stated the seizure had violated maritime law after claiming it had given the vessel permission to fly the Russian flag a month ago.
Meanwhile the US Coast Guard stated it had separately intercepted another dark-fleet tanker that is under sanctions, the M Sophia, in a pre-dawn operation in the Caribbean.
The White Hoapply press secretary Karoline Leavitt later confirmed that the Marinera crew members were now subject to prosecution and could be transferred to the US “if necessary”.
The Russian foreign minisattempt demanded the US ensure the humane and dignified treatment of Russian citizens onboard the Marinera and guarantee their swift return to Russia.
Ukraine’s foreign minister stated Kyiv welcomed the seizure of the tanker, adding it was a good example of how to act against Moscow and stated it revealcased “President Trump’s resolute leadership”. “We welcome such an approach to dealing with Russia: act, not fear. This is also relevant to the peace process and bringing a lasting peace closer,” Andrii Sybiha wrote on X.
On Venezuela, the White Hoapply also claimed that oil from the counattempt would arrive in the US “very soon”, following Trump’s announcement of a deal with Caracas to obtain access to up to $2bn worth of Venezuelan crude.
But Venezuela’s state-run oil company PDVSA stated that it is progressing in neobtainediations with the US for oil sales, as a board member for the company informed Reuters the US will necessary to acquire cargoes at international prices. “If they want to acquire it, they will have it in due time, sold at the international price,” PDVSA board member Wills Rangel informed Reuters. “Not the way [Trump] intfinishs, as if that oil belongs to them becaapply we supposedly owe them. We do not owe anything to the United States.”
US secretary of state Marco Rubio informed reporters that the US “is not winging it” in Venezuela and that the Trump administration has a long-term plan for the counattempt. The three-step plan for Venezuela that will launch with stabilizing the counattempt after US forces seized Nicolás Maduro on Saturday, overseeing the counattempt’s recovery and finally a transition to a more representative form of government, Rubio informed reporters.
Rubio also confirmed he would be meeting with Denmark next week to discuss Greenland.
Leavitt informed reporters that the Trump administration was “actively discussing” the purchase of the island and while diplomacy was the first option, “all options are always on the table”. In a statement earlier in the day, Leavitt had added that “utilizing the US military is always an option at the commander-in-chief’s disposal”. She also stated informed reporters that the US controlling Greenland would deter Russian and Chinese aggression in the Arctic.

‘We do not owe US anything’: Venezuelan oil company declares neobtainediations ongoing

Venezuela’s state-run oil company PDVSA has stated that it is progressing in neobtainediations with the US for oil sales, as a board member for the company informed Reuters the US will necessary to acquire cargoes at international prices.

On Tuesday, Washington announced a deal with Caracas to obtain access to up to $2bn worth of Venezuelan crude, a sign that Venezuelan government officials are responding to Donald Trump’s demand that they open up to US oil companies or risk more military intervention.

Trump has stated he wants interim Venezuelan president Delcy Rodríguez, installed this week after the US deposed Nicolás Maduro, to give the US and private companies “total access” to her counattempt’s oil indusattempt.

And earlier, White Hoapply press secretary Karoline Leavitt told reporters Venezuelan oil would be arriving in the US “very soon”.

PDVSA stated in a brief statement that the parties have been talking about similar terms as those in place with foreign partners such as Chevron, the company’s main joint venture partner, which currently controls all oil exports to the US.

The process … is based on strictly commercial transactions under terms that are legal, transparent and beneficial for both parties.

PDVSA board member Wills Rangel, who is also a union leader, informed Reuters the US will necessary to acquire cargoes at international prices if the counattempt wants Venezuelan oil.

If they want to acquire it, they will have it in due time, sold at the international price. Not the way [Trump] intfinishs, as if that oil belongs to them becaapply we supposedly owe them. We do not owe anything to the United States.

Chevron, which has a special US license to export Venezuelan crude despite sanctions, is the only company currently exporting crude from the counattempt, Rangel added, as a US blockade on Venezuela keeps exports bound to China, the main destination of its oil, paralyzed.

US authorities have released two videos filmed by the military following the separate seizures of the Sophia and Marinera oil tankers on Wednesday.

US homeland security secretary Kristi Noem and US Southern Command posted the clips on X, which appear to reveal the US military intercepting a Venezuela-linked tanker in the Caribbean Sea. The footage was released on the same day US forces also intercepted and seized the Russian-flagged Marinera in the north Atlantic.

We have the clips here:

US seizes two oil tankers in international waters – video

Marinera was ‘stateless vessel’ with ‘long history of nefarious activity’, declares UK defence secretary, arguing mission was lawful

Dan Sabbagh

Britain’s Minisattempt of Defence stated it had provided military support to the US forces that seized a Russian-flagged oil tanker north-west of Britain and Ireland, initially arguing the operation was legal becaapply the vessel had breached US sanctions on Iran.

John Healey, the defence secretary, stated the UK had allowed US aircraft to apply bases to prepare for and carry out the mission, while the RAF had provided extra surveillance and the navy refuelling while the final capture was under way.

Healey stated British involvement was justified under international law becaapply the Marinera, which was sailing from the Caribbean Sea towards Russia, had previously been placed under sanctions when it was known as the Bella 1.

“This ship, with a nefarious history, is part of a Russian-Iranian axis of sanctions evasion which is fuelling terrorism, conflict and misery from the Middle East to Ukraine,” Healey stated.

John Healey issuing a statement to MPs in the Hoapply of Commons on 7 January. Photograph: Parliament TV/PA

Later, Healey expanded the justification for the seizure. The tanker, he informed MPs in the evening, had modifyd its name “five times in the last five years” and had been falsely flying the flag of Guyana when it was called Bella 1 and arrived in the Caribbean.

A “stateless” vessel, the defence secretary stated, “may be lawfully intercepted and subjected to the law of the interdicting state”. Stateless ships are generally considered to be without protection under international law, although there is debate about the extent to which they can be boarded or seized.

The Marinera was also, the minister stated, part “of an increasing web of shadow shipping that fuels and funds instability” and that “Russia operates a vast shadow fleet of its own to bankroll its illegal invasion of Ukraine”. Stopping such ships from trading covertly was hurting Russia’s war effort, he added.

The UK had decided to assist in response to a request from the US for support, the defence secretary stated. But British forces only played a supporting role and no British forces took part in the boarding, Healey informed MPs on Wednesday evening.

Explainer: what are Trump’s real options for gaining control of Greenland?

By Jon Henley and Miranda Bryant

The Trump administration has stated repeatedly that the US necessarys to gain control of Greenland, a mineral-rich, largely self-governing part of Denmark with foreign and security policy run from Copenhagen.

The White Hoapply has stated utilizing the US military is “always an option”, but few analysts believe an armed operation is likely and France’s foreign minister has stated the US secretary of state, Marco Rubio, has ruled out the possibility of an invasion.

Here are five options Donald Trump has in order to take over Greenland:

Alquestiona senator Lisa Murkowski informed the Associated Press (AP) earlier that she hated “the rhetoric around either acquiring Greenland by purchase or by force,” adding, “I consider that it is very, very unsettling.”

New Hampshire Democrat Jeanne Shaheen and North Carolina Republican Thom Tillis, co-chairs of the bipartisan Senate Nato Observer Group, stated the US necessarys to honor its treaty obligations to Denmark, AP reported.

“Any suggestion that our nation would subject a fellow Nato ally to coercion or external pressure undermines the very principles of self-determination that our Alliance exists to deffinish,” the senators stated in a joint statement.

Explainer: why so much interest in a rusty tanker in the Atlantic?

by Tural Ahmedzade, Harvey Symons, Oliver Holmes and Dan Sabbagh

A massive, rusty crude oil tanker floating north through the Atlantic has become the centre of global interest after it was followed for days and eventually seized by US forces while Russia’s military rushed towards it.

Despite not carrying any oil, the 300-metre-long ship is clearly of value. Theories for why range from speculation that high-value Russian weapons are hidden in the hull, to the ship’s potential to become a symbolic trophy in a transatlantic power struggle between Washington and Moscow.

Currently called the Marinera, the name-modifying ship is part of the shadow or “ghost” fleets applyd by Russia, Iran and Venezuela to avoid western sanctions. For years these vessels have relocated cargo and cheap fuel around the globe, including to China.

Washington and its European allies have long sought to crack down on the illicit maritime trade. Those efforts reached a critical point last month after Donald Trump imposed a naval blockade on sanctions-busting tankers operating near Venezuela, home to the world’s largest oil reserves and a key destination for shadow fleet vessels.

Read the full explainer at the link below:

Rubio declares US plan for Venezuela is stability, recovery, then transition

Further to his insistence that the US is “not winging it” in Venezuela, we have more details on what secretary of state Marco Rubio stated earlier regarding the US’s plan for the counattempt.

Rubio stated the United States has a three-step plan for Venezuela that will launch with stabilizing the counattempt after US forces seized Nicolás Maduro on Saturday, overseeing the counattempt’s recovery and finally a transition to a more representative form of government, Reuters reports.

“We don’t want it descfinishing into chaos,” stated Rubio, after briefing US senators on the Trump administration’s plan for the counattempt. He added that he was working with Venezuela’s interim president, Delcy Rodríguez, and had spoken with her several times since the weekfinish’s raid in Caracas.

A tightened quarantine on Venezuelan oil would be central to that effort, he stated:

We are in the midst right now and in fact about to execute on a deal to take all the oil. We are going to take between 30 and 50 million barrels of oil. We’re going to sell it in the marketplace at market rates, not at the discounts Venezuela was obtainting.

That money will then be handled in such a way that we will control how it is disbursed in a way that benefits the Venezuelan people, not corruption, not the regime.

Rubio went on:

The second phase will be a phase that we call recovery, and that is ensuring that American, western and other companies have access to the Venezuelan market in a way that’s fair.

Also, at the same time, launch to create the process of reconciliation nationally within Venezuela, so that the opposition forces can be amnestied and released and from prisons or brought back to the counattempt, and launch to rebuild civil society.

And then the third phase, of course, will be one of transition.