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White House: US is rolling back sanctions on Venezuelan oil

Secretary of State Marco Rubio outlined a three-phase plan for Venezuela before the U.S. Congress following the capture of Maduro: Stabilization: preventing chaos and controlling key resources such as oil. Recovery: reintegrating Venezuela into global markets and promoting political reconciliation, with amnesties and the release of prisoners. Transition: consolidating internal political change toward a new direction. Rubio stated that the first stage is crucial to preventing social and institutional disorder in the country.

The UK Ministry of Defence confirmed it supported a US operation to seize the oil tanker Bella 1 (also known as Marinera). British forces provided planned support at the US's request, including basing, assistance from RFA Tideforce, and RAF surveillance in the North Atlantic

CNN, citing sources: Trump has told allies and senior officials of his desire to keep Iran, Russia, and China out of the Western Hemisphere

Secretary of War Pete Hegseth: "Only legitimate and legal energy trade, as determined by the U.S., will be permitted."

The Russian Ministry of Transport accusing U.S. in violation of international maritime laws: US Navy forces boarded the Mariner on January 7 at approximately 3:00 PM Moscow time in the open sea outside the territorial waters of any state. Contact with the vessel was lost.

South Command: In a pre-dawn action this morning, the Department of War, in coordination with the Department of Homeland Security, apprehended a stateless, sanctioned dark fleet motor tanker without incident. The interdicted vessel, M/T Sophia, was operating in international waters and conducting illicit activities in the Caribbean Sea. The U.S. Coast Guard is escorting M/T Sophia to the U.S. for final disposition. Through Operation Southern Spear, the Department of War is unwavering in its mission to crush illicit activity in the Western Hemisphere. We will defend our Homeland and restore security and strength across the Americas

Secretary of War Pete Hegseth: The blockade of sanctioned and illicit Venezuelan oil remains in FULL EFFECT — anywhere in the world

U.S. European Command: The @TheJusticeDept & @DHSgov, in coordination with the @DeptofWar today announced the seizure ofthe M/V Bella 1 for violations of U.S. sanctions. The vessel was seized in the North Atlantic pursuant to a warrant issued by a U.S. federal court after being tracked by USCGC Munro

MARINERA (9230880) is now facing east-by-southeast towards northern Scotland/Shetland

U.S. forces boarded sanctioned oil tanker between Iceland and the British isles before Russian warships and a submarine could arrive, officials say. The tanker was previously called Bella 1, but had reflagged to become a Russian vessel

Multiple U-28A “Draco” Special Operations Aircraft with the U.S. Air Force Special Operations Command (AFSOC) have departed from Wick John O'Groats Airport in Northern Scotland and are heading northwest towards Iceland, expected to pass almost directly over where operations are currently ongoing to seize the Russian-flagged Iranian-linked oil tanker, Marinera

Another interception underway, this one in Latin American water

The United States is attempting to seize a Venezuela-linked oil tanker after a more two-week-long pursuit across the Atlantic. The seizure, which could stoke tensions with Russia, came after the tanker, originally known as the Bella-1, slipped through a U.S. maritime "blockade" of sanctioned tankers and rebuffed U.S. Coast Guard efforts to board it

Military forces are attempting to board the Russian-flagged tanker 'Marinera', a source tells Russian State News Agency RT

China strongly condemned the US for redirecting Venezuelan oil exports to Washington and away from Beijing, after President Trump unveiled a plan to refine and sell up to 50 million barrels of Venezuelan oil stuck in the country under a US blockade

At least 5 sanctioned tankers involved in Venezuelan oil exports are now declaring themselves Russian, per the NYT. The Russian Navy is reportedly sending ships to escort one, currently being pursued by U.S. forces in the North Atlantic

Colombia's foreign minister on Tuesday said the country's military must defend the country's territory and sovereignty in the event of a hypothetical U.S. invasion

The New York Times, citing US officials: Washington is pressuring Venezuela to expel advisors from China, Russia, Cuba, and Iran.

Russia sends submarine to escort oil tanker that the US tried to seize off the coast of Venezuela, according to The Wall Street Journal

President Donald J. Trump announces Interim Authorities in Venezuela will be turning over between 30 and 50 MILLION Barrels of High Quality, Sanctioned Oil, to the United States of America

Brazil calls the capture of Maduro at the OAS meeting a "kidnapping".

Delcy Rodríguez, after Trump's threats: "Personally, to those who threaten me, I say: my destiny is decided only by God. That is my response."

Delcy Rodríguez: There is no external agent governing Venezuela. In a ministerial meeting, she stated: "Venezuela is currently on a painful path due to the aggression it has suffered, which is unprecedented in our history and in the history of South America. However, the Venezuelan people are active in the streets, with the women of Venezuela marching today for peace in our country, demanding the freedom of our heroes, President Maduro and First Lady Cilia Flores. This is a people who do not surrender. We are united and governing alongside the people. The government of Venezuela is governed by its constitutional government; there is no external agent governing Venezuela. It is Venezuela, it is its constitutional government, it is the consolidated power of the people."

Demonstrators gathered in front of Austin City Hall on Sunday to protest the U.S. bombing of Venezuela over the weekend and the capture of President Nicolás Maduro

Venezuela’s Ministry of Communication and Information has now confirmed that gunfire heard earlier tonight near the Miraflores Presidential Palace Complex in Caracas, was the results of warning shots being fired by police at “unidentified drones” flying over the palace without permission from the Ministry of Defense. “We want to clarify that what happened in downtown Caracas was because some drones flew over without permission and the police fired dissuasive shots. No confrontation took place. The whole country is in total tranquility,” said a Spokesman for the Information Ministry.

Turkiye's Erdogan, Trump discussed bilateral ties, defense industry cooperation, trade, Gaza and Venezuela in phone call, Turkish presidency says

The State Department is "making preparations to allow for a reopening" of the U.S. embassy in Caracas "should the President make that decision," a senior State Department official said Monday. Embassy operations were suspended and its staff was withdrawn in 2019

The US will meet with oil executives this week to discuss Venezuela's economic recovery, according to Bloomberg.

Delcy Rodríguez was sworn in as acting president of Venezuela. The National Assembly, controlled by the Chavista regime, swore in Delcy Rodríguez as "acting president" after US forces captured Maduro in a military operation over the weekend. The act was carried out following a "ruling" by the Constitutional Chamber of the Supreme Court of Justice, also controlled by the regime.