According to a report published by the Mexican newspaper La Jornada, the European Union has seized approximately 140 million barrels of crude oil belonging to Venezuela since the removal, described in the piece as a “kidnapping,” of President Nicolás Maduro.
The figure, if confirmed, would represent a massive volume of oil—enough to fuel significant debate over who controls Venezuela’s vast petroleum reserves, among the largest in the world, during a period of political upheaval in the South American nation.
The report comes amid ongoing international tension over Venezuela’s leadership and its oil-dependent economy, which has long been a flashpoint for sanctions, disputed elections, and foreign intervention. Venezuela’s crude has historically been sold to allies and trading partners despite years of US sanctions, making any European seizure of this scale a notable development in the country’s fraught relationship with Western powers.
Details on how exactly the oil was seized, where the barrels are being held, and the legal basis for the action were not fully specified in the available summary of the story. The claim underscores broader questions about accountability, sovereignty, and the fate of Venezuela’s natural resources following changes in its government.
For the complete report and further context, read the original article at jornada.com.mx.
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