Venezuelan acting president Delcy Rodriguez on Thursday called on the legislature to approve an oil industry reform plan to attract foreign investment and boost the country's economic recovery. 🌱
In her annual report, Rodriguez said the reforms would optimize the operating environment and strengthen Venezuela's capacity for international cooperation. She highlighted that oil production hit 1.2 million barrels per day in December 2025, and export revenues will fund public health, infrastructure, and economic development.
"Venezuela is currently at an important turning point, and the government will explore more pragmatic and diversified foreign exchange channels," Rodriguez noted, adding that relations with all parties, including the U.S., should be handled on the basis of mutual respect. 🤝
Meanwhile, the U.S. Southern Command announced via X that U.S. forces seized a sixth Venezuela-linked tanker on Thursday morning. "In another pre-dawn action, Marines and Sailors from Joint Task Force Southern Spear, in support of the Department of Homeland Security, launched from USS Gerald R. Ford (CVN 78) and apprehended Motor/Tanker Veronica without incident," the command said.
"The only oil leaving Venezuela will be oil that is coordinated properly and lawfully," the command emphasized, noting that the Trump administration will continue cracking down on sanctioned vessels in the Caribbean.
According to shipping analytics provider Kpler, the crackdown has cut Venezuela's crude loadings to roughly half of normal levels this month. Only ships bound for the U.S. and those transporting oil to domestic refineries are loading crude at Venezuela's ports.
U.S. Energy Secretary Chris Wright added that the United States will market stored Venezuelan oil and indefinitely control sales of the country's oil output. 💼🛢️
As Venezuela seeks to revitalize its crucial oil sector, the dual forces of domestic reforms and international pressure set the stage for what's next in this high-stakes energy drama. 🌎
Reference(s):
Venezuela pushes for oil industry reforms amid U.S. tanker seizures
cgtn.com
