President Donald Trump isn't playing games when it comes to Venezuela.
As we reported on Tuesday, he announced that the South American country would be turning over sanctioned oil to provide 30 to 50 million barrels for the benefit of the U.S. and the Venezuelan people. That would be over a billion dollars in value.
READ MORE: Trump Announces Venezuelan Government Will Turn Over Barrels of Sanctioned Oil to U.S. Control
But it gets better. If you were wondering how Trump was going to do this without more military action, he literally has them over a barrel.
The Trump administration has told Venezuela's interim president Delcy Rodriguez that the regime must meet the White House's demands before being allowed to pump more oil, according to three people familiar with the administration's plan.
First, the country must kick out China, Russia, Iran, and Cuba and sever economic ties, the sources said. Second, Venezuela must agree to partner exclusively with the U.S. on oil production and favor America when selling heavy crude oil, they added.
According to one person, Secretary of State Marco Rubio told lawmakers in a private briefing on Monday that he believes the U.S. can force Venezuela's hand because its existing oil tankers are full. Rubio also told lawmakers that the U.S. estimates that Caracas has only a couple of weeks before it will become financially insolvent without the sale of its oil reserves.
Senate Armed Services Committee Chairman Roger Wicker (R-MS) said the idea was to do this without boots on the ground.
"The government does intend to control the oil, taking charge of the ships, the tankers, and none of them are going to go to Havana," Wicker said. "And until they start moving -- we hope to the open market -- there are no more tankers to fill, because they're totally full."
The U.S. also has a sanctions blockade around the country. We've also seized two tankers that were either coming to or leaving Venezuela in violation of sanctions.
The U.S. military seized the Bella 1 and subsequently handed over control of it to law enforcement officials, said a U.S. official, who spoke to The Associated Press on Wednesday on the condition of anonymity to discuss sensitive military operations
The ship was sanctioned by the U.S. in 2024 for allegedly smuggling cargo for a company linked to Lebanese militant group Hezbollah, which is backed by Iran. The U.S. Coast Guard attempted to board it in the Caribbean in December as it headed for Venezuela. The ship refused boarding and headed across the Atlantic.
They tried to reflag as a Russian ship, but that didn't fool anyone. U.S. European Command said they seized it “pursuant to a warrant issued by a U.S. federal court.” Russia tried to send assets to escort the ship, but it looks like the U.S. got to it first.
The U.S. also seized another sanctioned tanker, the Sophia, in the Caribbean, according to Secretary of Homeland Security Kristi Noem, who revealed that both ships were “either last docked in Venezuela or en route to it.” She praised the actions of the U.S. forces involved.
In two predawn operations today, the Coast Guard conducted back-to-back meticulously coordinated boarding of two “ghost fleet” tanker ships— one in the North Atlantic Sea and one in international waters near the Caribbean. Both vessels —the Motor Tanker Bella I and the Motor… pic.twitter.com/EZlHEtcufX
— Secretary Kristi Noem (@Sec_Noem) January 7, 2026
Both vessels —the Motor Tanker Bella I and the Motor Taker Sophia—were either last docked in Venezuela or en route to it.
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