On Wednesday, January 7, 2026, U.S. President Donald Trump announced that Venezuela will exclusively purchase American-made goods using the funds received through a new oil agreement between the two countries. According to Trump, these purchases will include U.S. agricultural products, medicines, medical devices, and equipment aimed at improving Venezuela’s power grid and energy infrastructure.
In a post on Truth Social, Trump emphasized that Venezuela has agreed to make the United States its “primary partner,” describing the decision as highly beneficial for both the American and Venezuelan people. “In other words, Venezuela commits to doing business with the United States as its main partner: a smart and very beneficial decision,” he wrote.
The announcement comes amid heightened U.S. measures to control oil flows from Venezuela. On the same day, U.S. authorities seized two tankers linked to Venezuela in the Atlantic Ocean, one of which was flagged under Russia. The seizures are part of Trump’s aggressive campaign to manage oil shipments from Latin America while selectively lifting some sanctions on Venezuela’s oil sector.
Following the removal of Venezuelan leader Nicolás Maduro from power, the U.S. has been blocking sanctioned vessels entering or leaving Venezuelan waters. Among the detained ships was the Marinera, which previously refused boarding and changed its flag to Russia. The Coast Guard and U.S. military authorities confirmed the seizure, signaling a continued U.S. push to assert control over the region’s strategic energy resources.
