Russia Formally Claims Ownership of Venezuelan Energy Assets
Moscow, Wednesday, 14 January 2026.
Defying intensifying U.S. pressure, Moscow’s state-owned Roszarubezhneft has officially asserted ownership of its Venezuelan oil assets, signaling a firm refusal to cede strategic influence in Latin America’s energy sector.
Moscow Draws a Line in the Sand
On January 13, 2026, Roszarubezhneft explicitly stated that all its assets within Venezuela are the “property of the Russian state,” asserting its intent to strictly honor obligations to international partners [2][3]. This declaration serves as a direct countermeasure to U.S. President Donald Trump, who openly claimed control over Venezuela’s vast oil reserves—the largest in the world—as of January 5 [2][3]. The Russian firm emphasized that its acquisition of these assets complied with both Venezuelan and international laws, signaling that it will not cease operations despite Washington’s plans to facilitate a U.S.-led revitalization of the sector [3][5].
Geopolitical Flashpoints
The diplomatic standoff has rapidly escalated into physical enforcement actions. As of January 7, U.S. forces had seized a Russia-flagged, Venezuela-linked oil tanker in the North Atlantic following a pursuit that originated near Venezuelan waters in late December 2025 [1][2]. This maritime interdiction coincides with a significant political upheaval; the United States captured Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro earlier in the year, transporting him to New York to face drug-trafficking charges, to which he has pleaded not guilty [1][2]. While Russian President Vladimir Putin has not yet publicly commented on the U.S. operation, the Russian Foreign Ministry has called for dialogue and urged Washington to release Maduro [3].
Strategic Entrenchment
Russia’s logistical and legal framework in Venezuela was fortified specifically to withstand such geopolitical pressure. Roszarubezhneft was incorporated in 2020 to take over the assets of Rosneft, a maneuver designed to protect the holdings after the United States imposed sanctions on Rosneft’s units for trading Venezuelan oil [1][3]. Today, the state-owned entity manages five oil-producing joint ventures with the Venezuelan state firm PDVSA [1]. The durability of this partnership was reinforced recently; in November 2025, Venezuela’s National Assembly approved a 15-year extension for these joint ventures, legally cementing Russia’s operational presence well into the next decade [2][3].