Venezuela reportedly ships crude oil to Israel after exports reopen following Maduro’s capture
On February 10, 2026, Venezuelan crude oil was reported to be en route to Israel after the country’s oil exports reopened. Bloomberg News and other sources reported that a Venezuelan crude oil cargo was being transported to Israel’s Bazan Group refinery, marking the first shipment to Israel in several years. If confirmed, this would be the first delivery of Venezuelan crude oil to Israel since mid‑2020.
The reports linked the reopening of exports to Venezuela’s changed political situation following the capture of former President Nicolás Maduro by U.S. forces earlier in 2026. According to these reports, the United States took control of Venezuela’s oil sales after Maduro’s detention, and Venezuela subsequently diversified its oil exports to several markets including India, Spain, the United States, and Israel.
Venezuelan authorities publicly rejected the report of exports to Israel, calling it fabricated and unsupported by official documentation. Israeli authorities and the Bazan Group declined to comment on the cargo’s origins. Israel does not publicly disclose its crude oil suppliers, and tanker tracking data sometimes becomes unavailable near Israeli ports. The shipment remains reported by sources familiar with the arrangements but has not been officially confirmed by either government.
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