The final goal is “rebuilding civil society” in Venezuela and allowing for the transition to a democratic government. The U.S. aims to sell up to 50 million barrels of Venezuelan oil and use the funds to back the new Venezuelan government, led by interim president, Delcy Rodríguez, he explained. “There is a process now in place where we have tremendous control and leverage over what those [remaining Venezuelan authorities] are doing and are able to do,” he said. “They are talking about stealing the Venezuelan oil at gunpoint for a period of time undefined as leverage to micromanage the country,” said Democratic Senator Chris Murphy of Connecticut. “The scope and insanity of that plan is absolutely stunning,” Murphy told reporters.

Source: Bueno Aires Herald January 08, 2026 16:31 UTC