The White House has not ruled out pressuring Venezuela to limit its ties with China and Russia following President Trump's claim that the country will hand over oil reserves. China has condemned the move as blatant interference in Venezuelan sovereignty. Beijing stressed that Caracas holds full permanent sovereignty over its natural resources.
On January 7, 2026, US President Donald Trump posted on social media that Venezuela's interim authorities would hand over 30 to 50 million barrels of high-quality sanctioned oil to the United States. He described the shift as a “wise choice” for the Venezuelan people and a “very good thing” for both Venezuela and the US. Trump also claimed that Caracas would now buy “only American-made” products, but provided no details on the oil deal.
White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt stated that the US is committed to maintaining “American dominance in the western hemisphere.” She said the administration would not rule out pressuring Venezuela to curb its ties with China, Russia, Iran, and Cuba. National Security Advisor and Secretary of State nominee Marco Rubio echoed this position.
China's Foreign Ministry spokesperson Mao Ning strongly condemned the US actions as “blatant interference” that violates international law and infringes on Venezuelan sovereignty. “Venezuela is a sovereign state and has full permanent sovereignty over all its natural resources and economic activities,” Mao said. Beijing emphasized that Latin American countries should decide their own affairs.
The episode follows Nicolas Maduro's removal, raising questions about the implications for Chinese investments in Venezuela, where Beijing has held significant stakes in oil and infrastructure.