Core Viewpoint - Citgo Petroleum has purchased Venezuelan crude oil for the first time since 2019, marking a significant shift in U.S.-Venezuela oil relations following the capture of President Maduro by U.S. forces [1][3]. Group 1: Citgo's Operations and Recent Developments - Citgo, a refiner with a capacity of 830,000 barrels per day, is expected to be taken over by an affiliate of Elliott Investment Management to settle debts with Venezuela-linked creditors [2]. - The company has been blocked from accessing Venezuelan oil since 2019, after severing ties with PDVSA following Maduro's re-election, which the U.S. did not recognize [2][6]. - Citgo has recently acquired a cargo of approximately 500,000 barrels of Venezuelan heavy crude for February delivery from Trafigura [4]. Group 2: U.S. Government Actions and Market Implications - The deal is seen as a major milestone in U.S. efforts to normalize and potentially increase Venezuelan oil sales and revenue, which were previously controlled by the U.S. after Maduro's capture [5]. - Citgo had previously relied on other Latin American heavy grades and U.S. domestic crudes to compensate for the lack of Venezuelan oil [5]. - U.S. government officials expedited supply deals with trading houses like Vitol and Trafigura to address a significant accumulation of oil inventories caused by a U.S. naval blockade [7].