The Trump administration is asserting control over Venezuelan oil, after seizing a pair of sanctioned tankers on Wednesday
Venezuela’s interim president, Delcy Rodríguez, has defended plans to open up her country’s oil market to Washington, as Donald Trump’s vice-president JD Vance reiterated that the US would have complete control of the country’s supplies.
Rodríguez said on Wednesday that America’s attack to remove her predecessor, Nicolás Maduro, put a “stain” on the countries’ relations, but added it was “not unusual or irregular” to trade with the US, adding that Venezuela was “open to energy relations where all parties benefit.”
Trump’s administration has sought to assert its control over Venezuelan oil, seizing a pair of sanctioned tankers on Wednesday, while announcing it would manage all sales of future crude production and oversee the sale of the country’s petroleum worldwide.
“We’re going to market the crude coming out of Venezuela,” US energy secretary, Chris Wright, said. “First this backed-up store of oil, and then indefinitely going forward we will sell the production that comes out of Venezuela in the marketplace.”
