CARACAS DAILY — 19 MARCH 2026
Shell Signs Punta de Mata Production Deal; Mining Law Advances After SOUTHCOM Publishes Patrols; 134 Deported From Miami
Chevron Executive Ali Moshiri Allegedly Advised CIA to Keep Delcy Rodriguez in Power
Former Chevron Latin America chief Ali Moshiri reportedly recommended to CIA maintaining Delcy Rodriguez as leader post-Maduro capture, Wall Street Journal and El Pitazo reported.
Rodriguez Announces 300 Million Dollars from Fuel Oil Sales for Worker Wages
Acting President Delcy Rodriguez announced 300 million dollars in revenue from fuel oil sales intended to increase worker incomes, TalCual Digital reported.
Rodriguez Rejects Petro Zero-Tariff Proposal Citing U.S. Sanctions Impact
Delcy Rodriguez rejected Colombian President Gustavo Petro's zero-tariff proposal, stating Venezuelan people remain under sanctions, El Nacional reported.
DRIVING THE DAY
SUMMARY: Shell signed a development agreement for PDVSA's Punta de Mata division 9 March, marking a significant oil sector deal days after U.S. Interior Secretary Doug Burgum's Caracas visit. The AN gave first-reading approval 9 March to the Organic Law on Mines, with opposition bloc Libertad voting "saved" to preserve second-debate participation rights. SOUTHCOM published imagery 9 March showing F-35 fighters, P-8 patrol aircraft, and KC-46 tankers conducting patrols in Venezuelan airspace as recently as 6 March. Grand Mission Vuelta a la Patria repatriated 134 Venezuelans from Miami — 91 men, 30 women, 13 children. Opposition figure Juan Pablo Guanipa announced 9 March he received formal notification that terrorism charges against him were dismissed by sobreseimiento 7 March. END SUMMARY.
