Venezuela has sent its first shipment of liquefied petroleum gas (LPG) abroad in the country’s history, according to interim President Delcy Rodríguez. This milestone comes after exporting gas for the first time, as the product had previously been used exclusively in the domestic market. Meanwhile, the United States arrested Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro and his wife in early January 2026, charging them with terrorism-related offenses. Rodríguez was sworn in as interim president, and Russia called for their release.
Interim Venezuelan President Delcy Rodríguez announced on Monday that the country had dispatched its first-ever shipment of liquefied petroleum gas abroad.
Rodríguez wrote on Telegram, “I am proud to share this moment. The ship Chrisopigi Lady has departed Venezuela carrying the first shipment of liquefied petroleum gas. We celebrate this historic achievement with the working class—exporting the first molecule of gas from our country. This is an accomplishment for the well-being of the Venezuelan people,” attaching a video of the gas tanker.
Previously, Venezuela directed all of its LPG production to the domestic market to fully meet local demand, leaving no surplus for export. In January of this year, the government announced the signing of a gas export contract without revealing the buyer’s identity.
On January 3, the United States launched strikes on civilian and military targets in Venezuela, during which President Nicolás Maduro and his wife, Cilia Flores, were arrested and transported to New York. U.S. authorities said they were linked to “narco‑terrorism” and posed a threat, including to the United States.
The first court hearing was held in New York, where Maduro and his wife denied the charges.
Following the operation, Caracas requested an emergency meeting of the UN Security Council, while Venezuela’s Supreme Court appointed Vice President Delcy Rodríguez as interim head of state. On January 5, Rodríguez was sworn in before the National Assembly as Venezuela’s interim president.
The Russian Foreign Ministry expressed Moscow’s solidarity with the Venezuelan people and called for the immediate release of Maduro and his wife, warning against any further escalation.