Indonesia warns oil shock risk after reported US action on Venezuela

  Deputy Chairman of Indonesia’s People’s Consultative Assembly (MPR) Eddy Soeparno on Monday urged the government to anticipate the risk of rising global oil prices and a potential energy shock following reports of a United States attack on Venezuela.

Soeparno said the reported action could ripple through global energy markets, noting Venezuela’s status as one of the world’s major oil exporters despite years of declining production.

“There need to be anticipatory measures by relevant ministries to address both the short-term and long-term impacts of this situation,” he said, calling for close monitoring of oil price movements.

He added that with effective mitigation strategies, Indonesia’s state budget could be shielded from potential losses caused by sharp fluctuations in crude prices, which affect fuel subsidies and inflation.

The situation in Venezuela, Soeparno said, should also serve as a reminder of the need to strengthen national energy resilience by accelerating the transition to renewable energy sources.

“I have said from the beginning that our dependence on imported energy can be reduced by pursuing a transition to domestically sourced renewable energy,” he said.

Soeparno highlighted President Prabowo Subianto’s commitment to building a strong and resilient national energy sector amid increasingly complex global geopolitical dynamics, adding that the current administration fully supports that policy direction.

Media reports over the weekend said Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro and his wife had been captured during a large-scale operation carried out by the United States, claims that have not been independently verified.

US President Donald Trump appeared to confirm the operation by posting an image on his Truth Social platform on Saturday, Jan. 3, showing a blindfolded man resembling Maduro wearing sportswear and headphones.

The reported developments have heightened concerns in energy markets, as any escalation involving Venezuela could disrupt oil supply routes or trigger further sanctions and countermeasures.

Venezuela’s Foreign Affairs Ministry said it plans to file a formal appeal with international organizations and has urged the United Nations to convene an emergency meeting in response to the incident, underscoring fears of wider regional and global repercussions.