
By Sama Marwan,
Ecuadorian President Daniel Noboa announced that his country is prepared to sell up to 250,000 barrels of oil per day to countries that currently purchase crude oil from Venezuela, in case U.S. President Donald Trump imposes sanctions on Venezuela.
Noboa stated, “If sanctions are imposed on Nicolás Maduro’s regime, Ecuador is ready to provide up to 250,000 barrels of oil per day,” according to the Argentine newspaper Infobae.
The newspaper noted that Ecuador, which produced 475,000 barrels of crude oil per day in 2024, exported approximately 72% of its production, making it a key player in the regional oil market. With this proposal, the country seeks to position itself as an alternative for buyers of Venezuelan oil at a time when the United States, under Donald Trump’s leadership, is considering halting its purchase of Venezuelan crude oil.
President Daniel Noboa reiterated that he is ready to sell up to 250,000 barrels of crude oil per day if sanctions are imposed on the Chavista regime.
Additionally, President Noboa announced that his government will designate the Tren de Aragua gang, a transnational criminal organization of Venezuelan origin, as a “terrorist group.” “The time has come not just for condemnation,” Noboa said. “We must act, and act decisively, just as those who threaten democracy do.”
Noboa’s decision to declare Tren de Aragua a terrorist organization aligns with a recent decision by his counterpart, Donald Trump, who made a similar declaration last week.
Meanwhile, Trump’s 25% tariffs on Canada and Mexico came into effect on Saturday. The U.S. president is still considering whether to include oil from these countries as part of the import taxes.
Regarding the tariffs on oil from Canada and Mexico, Trump stated: “We may or may not do it. We will probably make that decision tonight.” He added that his decision would depend on whether the oil prices charged by these trade partners are fair, although the basis for the threatened tariffs is related to stopping illegal immigration and the smuggling of chemicals used in fentanyl production.