Trump Announces Venezuelan Oil Transfer as U.S. Raid Captures Maduro, Sparks Regional Fallout
Updated (3 articles)
Trump Declares 30‑50 Million Barrel Oil Deal President Donald Trump announced on January 7, 2026 that Venezuela will ship 30 million to 50 million barrels of crude to the United States at market price, pledging that proceeds will “benefit the people” of both nations [1][2][3]. At an estimated $56 per barrel, the transaction could be worth up to $2.8 billion, roughly two‑and‑a‑half days of U.S. oil consumption [1][2][3]. The announcement was framed as both economic relief and a step toward opening Venezuela’s energy sector to U.S. investment [1][2][3].
White House Schedules Meeting With Major U.S. Oil Companies The administration arranged a Friday meeting with senior executives from ExxonMobil, Chevron and ConocoPhillips to discuss how American firms might gain technical access and investment opportunities in Venezuela’s struggling oil fields [1][2][3]. Officials described the session as a “strategic dialogue” aimed at leveraging the announced oil transfer into longer‑term commercial engagement [1][2][3]. Participants were briefed on Venezuela’s vast proven reserves despite current production hovering around one million barrels per day [3].
Night Raid Captures Maduro, Leaves Dozens Dead predawn U.S. operation seized President Nicolás Maduro and transported him to the United States to face drug‑trafficking charges [1][2][3]. Caracas authorities reported at least 24 Venezuelan security officers killed, while Cuban officials confirmed 32 of their military and police personnel died, prompting the attorney general to label the incident a potential war crime [1][2][3]. Acting president Delcy Rodríguez publicly rejected U.S. threats, declaring her fate rests with God [1][3].
U.S. Service Casualties and Domestic Opinion Divide The Pentagon confirmed seven U.S. service members were wounded; five have returned to duty and two remain in recovery from gunshot and shrapnel injuries [1][2][3]. A Washington Post/SSRS poll shows the American public is split, with roughly 40 % approving the capture and a similar share opposing it [2]. Maduro has pleaded not guilty in federal court, while European leaders defended Greenland’s sovereignty and Colombia lodged formal complaints over U.S. rhetoric [2].
Sources
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1.
WBNS: Trump says Venezuela will provide 30–50 million barrels of oil, while U.S. raid that captured Maduro sparks deadly fallout: Highlights Trump’s oil pledge, the $2.8 billion valuation, the White House‑oil‑exec meeting, casualties—including 24 Venezuelan and 32 Cuban deaths—and the split U.S. public reaction .
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2.
King5: Trump says Venezuela will provide 30–50 million barrels of oil; White House meets U.S. oil executives as deadly raid that captured Maduro sparks global fallout: Emphasizes the same oil deal and meeting, adds poll data on U.S. opinion, notes international pushback from Europe, Denmark, and Colombia .
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3.
AP: Trump says Venezuela will provide 30–50 million barrels of oil to U.S., pledges proceeds to benefit both countries: Focuses on the oil announcement, the scheduled meeting with Exxon, Chevron and ConocoPhillips, details the raid’s death toll, Delcy Rodríguez’s response, and the gap between Venezuela’s reserves and current output .
Timeline
2025 – Venezuela holds the world’s largest proven crude reserves yet produces only about one million barrels per day, underscoring the gap between potential and actual output that the Trump administration hopes to bridge. [1]
Jan 2026 – Nicolás Maduro faces U.S. drug‑trafficking charges and pleads not guilty in federal court, setting the legal backdrop for the upcoming U.S. operation. [3]
Jan 5, 2026 – A dead‑of‑night U.S. military raid captures President Nicolás Maduro in Caracas, killing at least 24 Venezuelan security officers, 32 Cuban military and police personnel, and wounding seven U.S. service members. [1][2][3]
Jan 5, 2026 – Acting president Delcy Rodríguez rebuffs U.S. threats, declaring “My destiny is not determined by them, but by God,” and vows divine judgment on any aggression. [1]
Jan 6, 2026 – President Donald Trump announces that Venezuela will deliver 30–50 million barrels of oil to the United States at market price and pledges that proceeds will benefit the peoples of both nations. [1][2][3]
Jan 6, 2026 – Trump estimates the oil transfer could be worth up to $2.8 billion, roughly two‑and‑a‑half days of U.S. oil consumption, highlighting the economic scale of the deal. [1][3]
Jan 6, 2026 – The White House schedules a Friday meeting on Jan 10 with executives from ExxonMobil, Chevron and ConocoPhillips to discuss expanding U.S. investment and technical access in Venezuela’s oil sector. [1][2][3]
Jan 6, 2026 – Venezuela’s attorney general orders prosecutors to investigate the raid deaths as a possible war crime, signaling a forthcoming legal inquiry. [1][2][3]
Jan 6, 2026 – The Pentagon reports five of the seven injured U.S. service members have returned to duty while two remain in recovery from gunshot and shrapnel wounds. [1][2][3]
Jan 2026 – A Washington Post/SSRS poll shows the American public split on the raid, with about 40 % approving, 40 % opposing, and 45 % opposing U.S. control over Venezuela’s government. [3]
Jan 2026 – European leaders, including Denmark, publicly defend Greenland’s sovereignty after U.S. rhetoric, while Colombia files formal diplomatic complaints over the Maduro raid, illustrating widening international fallout. [3]