Okay, here’s a summary of the news updates provided in the text, as of January 7, 2026, 10:55 GMT:
Key Developments:
* US navy & Venezuela: The US has imposed a blockade on Venezuelan oil tankers and conducted military strikes against Venezuelan boats, allegedly targeting drug trafficking. The stated (and believed) goal is regime change in Venezuela, potentially to gain access to cheaper crude oil.
* Nicolas Maduro: There is mention of the potential capture of Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro, suggesting a notable escalation in US actions. Russia is calling for his “immediate release.”
* oil Sanctions & “Shadow Fleet”: Venezuela continues to export oil despite international sanctions by using a “shadow fleet” of older tankers to disguise their locations. Approximately 850,000 barrels of the 1 million produced daily are exported, with China receiving the majority (80%), the US receiving 15-17%, and Cuba receiving the remainder.
* The Marinera Tanker: This tanker is part of the “shadow fleet” and was recently traveling northeast across the North Atlantic. It is currently near the UK (between scotland and Iceland) and is believed to be heading to Russia, though its final destination is unconfirmed.
* RAF Surveillance: An RAF spy plane (RC-135W Rivet Joint) flew over the same area of the north Atlantic as the Marinera tanker on Tuesday evening.
* US-UK Relationship: The UK Prime Minister’s spokesman emphasized the strong defense and security partnership between the US and the UK, but declined to comment on specific operational activity.
Source:
* The updates are being reported by Nicole Wootton-Cane for The Autonomous.
