Following the recent capture of Venezuelan president Nicolás Maduro,the Trump administration announced a meaningful move to secure access to the nation’s vast oil reserves. President Trump stated Tuesday that Venezuela’s interim government will transfer between 30 and 50 million barrels of oil to the United States, with the proceeds to be controlled by his administration for use in both countries. This action, occurring amidst ongoing political instability and a power transition led by Interim President Delcy Rodríguez, signals a potential shift in U.S. energy policy and a renewed focus on Venezuela’s oil industry [[1]], [[2]], [[3]].
President Donald Trump announced Tuesday that Venezuela’s interim government will deliver between 30 and 50 million barrels of sanctioned oil to the United States, with the revenue “controlled” by his administration. The move comes amid a period of political upheaval in Venezuela following the recent capture of President Nicolás Maduro.
“The authorities in Venezuela will deliver between 30 and 50 million barrels of high-quality, sanctioned oil to the United States,” Trump posted on his Truth Social platform. “This oil will be sold at market price, and that money will be controlled by me, as President of the United States, to ensure it is used for the benefit of the people of Venezuela and the United States.”
Trump described the millions of barrels as “high-quality oil authorized in the United States” in a separate post. The decision to accept Venezuelan oil follows the capture of Maduro on January 3 during a military operation in and around Caracas that resulted in more than fifty deaths.
According to Trump, the Department of Energy, led by Secretary Chris Wright, will immediately oversee the extraction plan. The 30 to 50 million barrels will be transported directly to U.S. unloading docks via storage tankers, though Trump did not specify a timeline for the delivery.
The announcement followed a day after Delcy Rodríguez, Maduro’s vice president, assumed the role of interim president following his capture. The Trump administration immediately recognized Rodríguez as its point of contact and demanded “full access” to Venezuelan oil and other resources.
Washington has stated that Rodríguez is “cooperating,” while the interim president has expressed willingness to collaborate on a joint agenda while still calling for Maduro’s return. This development underscores the U.S.’s willingness to engage with the new leadership in Venezuela to secure vital energy resources.
Venezuela holds the world’s largest proven oil reserves, but production has significantly lagged its potential due to years of sanctions and underinvestment. Major U.S. oil companies, including Chevron and ExxonMobil, have expressed interest in revitalizing the industry under U.S. control, viewing the operation as an opportunity to expand their businesses and secure a supply of high-quality crude.
mg (afp, Axios)
