Venezuela has announced a plan to increase its oil production by 18 percent in 2026. The state oil company PDVSA’s Chief Executive Officer Hector Obregon said the country has launched a reform program to fully open the energy sector to private investors in order to achieve this target. He noted that the previous law was not aligned with current industry needs, and Venezuela’s current oil output stands at around one million barrels per day.

Analysts said the new legislation is part of President Delcy Rodríguez’s commitment and that pressure from the United States played a key role in its initial approval. The pressure reportedly intensified after Venezuelan leader Nicolás Maduro was detained during a U.S. special forces operation. U.S. President Donald Trump has also expressed interest in Venezuela’s oil sector.

If the law is finally passed, it will ease decades of state control over Venezuela’s oil industry, a system that was further tightened in the mid-2000s under the late socialist leader Hugo Chávez.

Venezuelan lawmakers have given preliminary approval to a proposal allowing private investment in the country’s oil sector, paving the way for major U.S. energy companies to return. The bill, approved in its first reading less than three weeks after former president Nicolás Maduro’s removal, would permit private firms to independently explore and extract oil. If passed in a second reading, it would significantly loosen decades of state control tightened under late socialist leader Hugo Chávez.

Acting President Delcy Rodríguez, formerly Maduro’s deputy, played a key role in advancing the bill and has moved to normalize relations with the United States. U.S. President Donald Trump praised Rodríguez’s leadership, noting that the U.S. is already receiving part of Venezuela’s oil. On the same day, Washington appointed Laura F. Dogu as its new chargé d’affaires in Caracas, marking a step toward restoring full diplomatic ties.

Analysts say the oil sector reform and renewed diplomatic engagement could strengthen relations between Venezuela and the United States after years of tension following the 2019 diplomatic break.

Venezuelan interim president Delcy Rodríguez is expected to visit the United States soon, according to a senior White House official. If realized, it would mark the first bilateral visit by a sitting Venezuelan president to the U.S. in nearly 25 years, excluding United Nations General Assembly sessions. Rodríguez said she has no hesitation about dialogue with Washington and emphasized that existing differences and complexities between the two nations are being addressed through diplomatic discussions.

The potential visit signals a notable shift in relations between Washington and Caracas. It follows the recent U.S. Delta Force operation that led to the arrest of former Venezuelan president Nicolás Maduro, who now faces drug trafficking charges in the United States. Rodríguez, a close ally and former vice president under Maduro, currently serves as interim president. Despite U.S. sanctions, she has allowed Venezuelan oil exports through U.S. channels, supported foreign investment, and initiated the release of several political prisoners.

The White House stated that the visit’s schedule has not yet been finalized, and the Venezuelan government has not officially confirmed it.

Venezuela’s interim president Delcy Rodríguez announced that the country has received 300 million U.S. dollars from oil sales. Speaking on Tuesday, she said the payment represents the first installment under a 50-million-barrel oil supply agreement announced by U.S. President Donald Trump with Caracas. The deal came into effect earlier this month following the detention of President Nicolás Maduro.

According to Reuters, the Venezuelan government informed four domestic banks that the 300 million dollars, held in an account in Qatar, would be distributed among them. The funds will allow banks to sell dollars to local companies facing foreign currency shortages so they can pay for raw materials and essential imports. Rodríguez said the money, part of an initial 500 million dollar tranche, will be managed by the national and central banks to stabilize the currency market and protect workers’ income and purchasing power.

On the same day, lawmaker Jorge Rodríguez stated that a proposal to reform the country’s main oil law could be discussed this week. The reform aims to attract foreign investment and build on existing partnership models introduced under Maduro’s administration.

Venezuelan interim president Delcy Rodríguez stated on Thursday that her government is not afraid of a diplomatic conflict with the United States. Her remarks came after a U.S. military strike on January 3 that ousted her predecessor, Nicolás Maduro. Addressing the nation in parliament, Rodríguez said Venezuela recognizes U.S. power but will face it through political dialogue and diplomacy. Lawmakers applauded her speech as she urged Washington to respect Maduro’s dignity amid his drug trafficking trial in the United States.

Rodríguez, formerly Maduro’s vice president and a close ally of his leftist government, spoke shortly after a phone call with U.S. President Donald Trump. Trump described her as an “extraordinary person” and said they discussed oil, minerals, trade, and national security, achieving what he called “remarkable progress.” Meanwhile, Rodríguez is balancing U.S. demands with the need to avoid backlash from pro-Maduro security forces and paramilitary groups.

On the same day, Trump met Venezuelan opposition leader María Corina Machado. The White House called the meeting positive, though Trump continues to largely overlook other opposition figures.

Venezuelan opposition leader María Corina Machado met U.S. President Donald Trump at the White House in what officials described as a positive meeting. However, Trump’s public remarks about Machado’s political standing and her Nobel Peace Prize sparked new debate. He said that even though President Nicolás Maduro had been ousted, Venezuelans did not fully support Machado, and hinted at maintaining contact with Maduro’s deputy Delcy Rodríguez due to U.S. energy interests.

Machado, seeking to strengthen her political position, proposed sharing her Nobel Peace Prize with Trump, who said he would be honored to accept it. The Norwegian Nobel Committee later clarified that the prize cannot be shared or transferred. White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt said this was their first direct meeting since the January 3 U.S. military operation to detain Maduro. The two discussed Venezuela’s political situation and possible future elections, though no timeline was given.

Machado, who remains in exile after receiving her Nobel Prize in Oslo last month, met supporters outside the White House and called for restoring democracy in Venezuela.

The United States has officially started selling Venezuelan oil after taking full control of the country's oil resources following a military operation in Caracas. The operation, conducted on January 4, led to the abduction of President Nicolás Maduro and his wife from their official residence. They are currently held in a federal prison in New York City, where U.S. authorities said they will face trial on drug trafficking charges. The first shipment of oil worth 500 million dollars has already been sold.

On January 7, President Donald Trump announced plans to bring Venezuelan oil to the United States, estimating the first shipment at 30 to 50 million barrels. Two days later, he met with top executives from major U.S. oil companies at the White House, predicting potential investments of at least 100 billion dollars in Venezuela’s oil sector. However, most executives expressed reluctance, citing legal and commercial complexities.

Venezuela holds about 303 billion barrels of crude oil, roughly one-fifth of global reserves, but produces only one million barrels per day. Its heavy crude requires specialized refining to produce high-quality diesel, asphalt, and industrial fuels.

Venezuela’s state-owned oil company PDVSA has filed an appeal in a US court against an order to sell its American subsidiary, Citgo. Company representatives said on Tuesday that they have requested the cancellation of the court-directed sale, which was initiated to repay outstanding debts. Multiple creditors have long sought to recover more than 20 billion dollars owed by Venezuela, with Citgo being a key target for repayment claims.

According to AFP, a court in Delaware approved the sale of Citgo in late November last year as part of efforts to resolve the prolonged legal dispute. Citgo’s board has also petitioned to halt the sale, arguing that the US foreclosure process involves a serious conflict of interest that could harm the company’s economic value. The board estimates Citgo’s current worth at around 10 billion dollars.

The appeal marks the latest development in a complex legal battle over Venezuela’s unpaid debts and the future of one of its most valuable foreign assets.

Venezuela’s new interim government has begun releasing American citizens imprisoned in the country starting Tuesday, according to a U.S. official who confirmed and welcomed the move. The official, speaking anonymously, said multiple detainees had been freed but did not disclose the total number or further details. The releases were ordered by interim president Delcy Rodríguez, who previously served as vice president under ousted leader Nicolás Maduro, following a request from the United States.

U.S. President Donald Trump welcomed the initiative, announcing that he had canceled a planned attack on Venezuela in response to the country’s cooperation. The development follows years of political turmoil after Maduro was declared winner of the disputed 2024 presidential election, which triggered mass protests and a harsh government crackdown that led to thousands of arrests.

Earlier, Venezuela had also released Spanish and Italian citizens from detention. The United States has long considered the release of its citizens held abroad a top diplomatic priority.

A Venezuelan security guard has claimed that US forces used a powerful and mysterious weapon during a January 3 military operation in Venezuela aimed at arresting President Neulas Maduro. The witness described the weapon as a 'sonic' or sound-wave device that caused severe physical reactions among Venezuelan soldiers, including nosebleeds, vomiting, and loss of movement. The claim was shared on social media by the White House press secretary, according to a New York Post report.

The witness alleged that only a few US soldiers managed to overpower hundreds of Venezuelan security personnel due to the weapon’s effects. The Venezuelan Interior Ministry reported around 100 security force deaths in the operation but did not confirm whether the fatalities were linked to the alleged weapon. US officials have not commented on the use of such technology.

The operation’s stated objective was to capture Maduro, who faces accusations of drug trafficking and international crimes. Several Latin American countries have expressed concern over the use of advanced military technology in the incident.

The United States Department of State on Saturday advised its citizens to leave Venezuela immediately, citing the presence of armed militias and the risk of roadside checkpoints targeting individuals suspected of supporting the US. The advisory stated that the security situation in Venezuela remains unstable and unpredictable. It was issued one week after the arrest of Maduro and follows the resumption of international flights, which the department said should be used by Americans to depart the country.

According to the State Department, armed groups have been stopping vehicles at checkpoints to search for US citizens, and routine consular services in Venezuela remain limited. The advisory urged Americans to exercise heightened caution for their personal safety. In contrast, Venezuelan authorities dismissed the warning, asserting that the country’s security situation is stable and calm.

Despite the official rejection, the presence of armed groups and checkpoint activity continues to raise concern about the overall safety environment for foreign nationals in Venezuela.

Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro is reportedly in good condition while being held in a New York prison, according to his son Nicolás Maduro Guerra. Guerra said in a video message released on Saturday that his father had personally conveyed that he and his wife, Cilia Flores, were doing well and described themselves as fighters. The message was shared by Venezuela’s ruling PSUV party. Flores is currently awaiting trial.

According to the report, the United States conducted a special military operation in Venezuela on January 3, detaining Maduro and his wife. They were taken to the U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) headquarters for legal processing before being transferred to a detention facility in Brooklyn, New York. Both face charges related to drug and arms trafficking, allegations that Maduro has consistently denied.

The report did not specify when court proceedings might begin or provide further details about the conditions of their detention.

Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro and his wife were reportedly detained and taken from the country following a military raid in Caracas on January 3. According to the report, nine military helicopters carried out the operation around 2 a.m. local time, removing Maduro from power. The incident has been described as a dramatic example of a 'decapitation strike'—a sudden military action targeting a state’s top leadership.

The analysis warns that such actions, often justified as quick solutions, historically lead to instability and prolonged violence rather than resolution. Venezuela’s political and economic crises, compounded by sanctions and internal division, have made it a focal point of foreign intervention and regime change efforts. The article argues that forcibly removing a sitting president undermines international law and state sovereignty, turning diplomacy into coercion.

The commentary concludes that Venezuela’s crisis must be resolved through inclusive dialogue, fair elections, and international mediation, not through abduction or military threats. It cautions that legitimizing such tactics could endanger weaker nations and erode the foundations of global order.

Venezuelan interim president Delcy Rodríguez has pledged to confront what she described as U.S. aggression through diplomatic means. In a statement cited by TRT World, Rodríguez said Caracas is seeking to restore relations with Washington following the abduction of former president Nicolás Maduro. She held phone discussions with the leaders of Brazil, Colombia, and Spain, reaffirming that Venezuela would respond to the situation diplomatically.

Earlier, Venezuela released a large number of political prisoners, including several foreigners, in what observers viewed as part of efforts to ease tensions with the United States and reach a new political understanding. The move came after Maduro’s removal from power, as the new leadership sought to reduce U.S. pressure.

This mass release, the first under Rodríguez’s leadership, received support from U.S. President Donald Trump, who expressed satisfaction with the decision. Trump stated that Rodríguez would be allowed to govern as long as Washington maintained access to Venezuelan oil.

The article reports that the United States launched a military invasion of Venezuela on January 2, removing President Nicolás Maduro and taking control of the country’s vast oil reserves. The U.S. Department of Energy announced that it will now fully oversee all Venezuelan oil sales. President Donald Trump justified the action by claiming Venezuela had stolen American-built oil infrastructure and declared that U.S. companies would re-enter Venezuela to modernize its oil industry.

Venezuela holds the world’s largest proven crude oil reserves, estimated at 303 billion barrels, accounting for 17–20 percent of global supply. The country’s nationalization of oil in 1976 and the socialist policies of former President Hugo Chávez led to decades of tension with Washington. U.S. sanctions and Venezuela’s declining production weakened its economy and military, leaving it vulnerable to external aggression.

The author argues that the invasion marks the breakdown of the international rules-based order and a return to power-based dominance. The piece warns that weaker nations, including Bangladesh, must strengthen military and diplomatic capacity to protect sovereignty in an increasingly aggressive global environment.