Elon Musk-led SpaceX’s Starlink announced that it would provide free satellite broadband service to people in Venezuela till February 3, 2026, against the backdrop of ongoing geopolitical uncertainties due to the U.S. capture of Nicolás Maduro. Nevertheless, the service is only available to people who already possess Starlink hardware, excluding a larger chunk of the general population.
“Starlink is providing free broadband service to the people of Venezuela through February 3, ensuring continued connectivity,” the company said in an official post on X on January 4, 2026.
According to the official announcement from the company, service credits are automatically added to accounts of both active and inactive users. New users can access the benefit via the Roam plan.
However, the impact of the move is anticipated to be limited amid the regulatory uncertainties and lack of availability of Starlink’s hardware locally in the country. The company has yet to release the date of local purchase availability. Starlink further stated that it is monitoring the evolving conditions and regulatory requirements in Venezuela.
Delcy Rodríguez, former Vice President, is currently acting as the interim president of Venezuela. She was formally sworn in as president on Monday, January 5, 2026. After Delcy Rodríguez took over the presidency, U.S. President Donald Trump said on Truth Social that between 30 million and 50 million barrels of oil would be turned over by Venezuela to the United States.
“I am pleased to announce that the interim authorities in Venezuela will be turning over between 30 and 50 million barrels of high-quality, sanctioned oil to the United States of America… This oil will be sold at its market price, and that money will be controlled by me, as President of the United States of America, to ensure it is used to benefit the people of Venezuela and the United States.” The U.S. president wrote on Truth Social on Tuesday.
Meanwhile, the ousted Venezuelan president, Nicolás Maduro, and his wife, Cilia Flores, are currently undergoing trial in a federal court in New York. The charges against the couple include narco-terrorism conspiracy, cocaine-importation conspiracy, and possession of machine guns and destructive devices.
Nicolás Maduro pleaded not guilty in his first court appearance on Tuesday. He told the court that he was innocent and a decent man who had committed none of the alleged offenses. Cilia Flores also pleaded not guilty, saying she was completely innocent. The trial is overseen by U.S. District Judge Alvin K. Hellerstein.
Oil Prices Slide After Trump’s Venezuela Oil Comments
Oil prices are sliding following the announcement from the U.S president that Venezuelan oil will be sold on the market. Crude oil prices are falling, with WTI Crude trading at $56.53 per barrel, down $0.60 (-1.05%) in early market trading. Brent crude is trading at $60.26 per barrel, down $0.44 (-0.72%). Both U.S. WTI and Brent are declining, with the former showing a sharper slide.
The price slide is expected to continue as the supply pressure is likely to ease due to the increased availability of oil from Venezuela. Previously, OPEC+ producers have reiterated their decision to pause planned output increases in February and March 2026, citing seasonal market conditions.
