In the first three days, the world was shocked by the news of the United States kidnapping Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro and his wife Cilia Flores. The Venezuelan government threatened the same fate if it did not agree to allow Washington to gain access to Venezuelan oil reserves suitable for dozens of oil refineries along the coast of the Gulf of Mexico, specifically in the states of Texas and Louisiana. These refineries account for about 45% of the total US refining capacity, benefiting from their proximity to offshore oil fields and ports for ease of shipping. Oil production and maritime shipping dominated global news headlines in the first week of January 2026.
