• US demands Venezuela expel China, Russia, Iran, Cuba and sever all economic ties
• Rubio told lawmakers Caracas faces insolvency within weeks without oil sales
• Venezuela must partner exclusively with US on oil production under White House plan

WASHINGTON, D.C. (TDR) — The Trump administration has issued sweeping demands that Venezuela sever all economic ties with China, Russia, Iran and Cuba as a condition for allowing the country to export oil, according to multiple sources familiar with the White House plan.

The ultimatum, delivered to interim Venezuelan President Delcy Rodriguez, represents a direct challenge to longstanding alliances that have sustained the Maduro regime for years and marks the Trump administration’s most aggressive attempt yet to reshape Venezuela’s geopolitical orientation.

Two-Part Ultimatum

According to ABC News, citing three sources familiar with the administration’s plan, the demands contain two primary components designed to give Washington control over Venezuela’s oil industry.

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First, Venezuela must expel representatives from China, Russia, Iran and Cuba and completely sever economic relationships with those countries. Second, Caracas must agree to partner exclusively with the United States on oil production and favor American companies when selling heavy crude oil.

The White House did not dispute the reporting when contacted, with officials saying President Donald Trump remains focused on “exerting maximum leverage” to ensure Venezuelan cooperation with U.S. objectives.

Financial Pressure Strategy

Secretary of State Marco Rubio outlined the administration’s leverage during a classified briefing to lawmakers Monday, explaining how the U.S. plans to force compliance without deploying ground troops.

“We are going to take between 30 and 50 million barrels of oil. We’re going to sell it in the marketplace at market rates, not at the discounts Venezuela was getting. That money will then be handled in such a way that we will control how it is disbursed in a way that benefits the Venezuelan people, not corruption, not the regime.”

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Rubio told lawmakers in the private briefing that Washington believes it can apply overwhelming pressure because Venezuela’s oil tankers are already full but cannot sell their cargo due to U.S. sanctions. According to sources, the Secretary of State estimated Caracas has only weeks before facing financial insolvency without access to oil markets.

Control Without Troops

Sen. Roger Wicker (R-MS), chairman of the Senate Armed Services Committee, confirmed the U.S. strategy hinges on controlling Venezuela’s oil shipments rather than military occupation.

“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 told reporters he does not believe the plan requires deploying U.S. troops to Venezuelan territory, distinguishing the operation from traditional military interventions. The administration has already seized multiple Venezuelan oil tankers in international waters as part of what officials call an oil “quarantine.”

Three-Fold Process

After briefing both the Senate and House Wednesday, Rubio and Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth outlined what they described as a “three-fold process” for Venezuela involving stabilization, recovery and transition.

“We don’t want it descending into chaos. Part of that stabilization and the reason why we understand and believe that we have the strongest leverage possible is our quarantine.”

The stabilization phase centers on the oil quarantine strategy, which involves seizing tankers and controlling revenue from sanctioned oil sales. Rubio said the administration would determine how proceeds from the 30 to 50 million barrels are disbursed to benefit Venezuelans rather than enabling corruption.

Hegseth emphasized the military stands ready to continue seizing oil tankers as needed to maintain pressure on the Venezuelan government.

“Our military is prepared to continue this. The president when he speaks, he means it. He’s not messing around. We are an administration of action to advance our interests, and that is on full display.”

Context of Maduro Capture

The demands follow last weekend’s dramatic military operation that resulted in the capture of Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro and his wife Cilia Flores. U.S. special forces seized the couple in Caracas during Operation Absolute Resolve early Saturday morning.

Maduro and Flores were transported to New York where they face narco-terrorism conspiracy, cocaine-importation conspiracy and weapons charges. Both pleaded not guilty during their initial court appearance Monday. Delcy Rodriguez, who served as vice president under Maduro, was sworn in as interim president following the capture.

Trump announced Tuesday that Venezuelan authorities had agreed to turn over between 30 million and 50 million barrels of oil to the United States. The president said he would personally control how proceeds from selling the oil are used to benefit both Venezuela and America.

Historical Alliances Targeted

The Trump administration’s demands strike at relationships Venezuela has cultivated over decades as a counterweight to U.S. influence in Latin America. Former President Hugo Chavez nationalized the country’s oil industry in the early 2000s and forged close ties with adversarial nations.

China has invested billions in Venezuelan oil infrastructure and become a major trading partner. Russia has provided military support and helped Venezuela circumvent sanctions. Iran supplied fuel during shortages and provided technical expertise. Cuba has sent doctors, intelligence advisors and other personnel in exchange for subsidized oil.

Breaking these connections would represent a fundamental reorientation of Venezuelan foreign policy and significantly diminish Chinese and Russian influence in the Western Hemisphere—a core Trump administration objective.

International Reactions

Mexican President Claudia Sheinbaum strongly criticized the U.S. approach, defending Venezuelan sovereignty over its natural resources.

“I believe that every country has the sovereignty to decide what to do with its natural resources; I do not believe that one nation should decide for another, no matter how problematic the situation may be.”

Russia condemned Wednesday’s seizure of a Russian-flagged oil tanker bound for Venezuela in the North Atlantic, though Moscow has not issued an official response to Maduro’s capture. China similarly criticized what it characterized as U.S. interference in Venezuelan affairs.

Congressional Scrutiny

Democratic lawmakers expressed skepticism about the administration’s Venezuela strategy after classified briefings. Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer (D-NY) said administration officials “have no idea what steps 2 through 10 are going to be.”

Some Senate Democrats plan to push for a War Powers Resolution vote this week to block further military action in Venezuela. Sen. Rand Paul (R-KY), a longtime skeptic of military interventions, is expected to join them, though similar votes in recent months have failed.

Will Venezuela’s interim government capitulate to U.S. demands and abandon its traditional allies, or will China and Russia find ways to maintain their influence despite American pressure?

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