Venezuela’s economy plunged into uncertainty after Maduro abduction

Al JazeeraCenterEN 4 min read 100% complete January 8, 2026 at 02:56 AM

AI Summary

long article 4 min

Following the U.S. abduction of Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro in January 2026, uncertainty surrounds Venezuela's economic future. The U.S. announced it will control Venezuelan oil sales "indefinitely," raising concerns about revenue for Caracas. The U.S. plans to market sanctioned oil, holding proceeds in U.S. Treasury accounts to be shared between the two countries. A deal was also struck for Venezuela to export up to $2 billion worth of crude oil to the U.S. In the long term, the U.S. may ease sanctions on Venezuelan oil imports and equipment. The impact on Venezuela's economy hinges on sanctions relief, relations with the U.S., and control of oil revenues, especially considering that nearly 80% of Venezuela's budget was allocated to social spending.

Key Entities & Roles

Key Player Opposition Context

Rachel Ziemba 40% Center for a New American Security 40% Chris Wright ×260% United States Treasury 60% Donald Trump ×380% Nicolás Maduro (Maduro) ×490% Venezuela ×13100% United States ×10100%

Keywords

venezuelan economy 90% us sanctions 80% oil revenues 80% oil sales 70% nicolas maduro 70% us control 60% social spending 50% oil reserves 40% us treasury 40%