US President Donald Trump has announced that Venezuela’s new interim government will transfer up to 50 million barrels of high-quality oil to the United States.
This move, valued at approximately $2.8 billion, follows a recent military operation that resulted in the removal of Nicolás Maduro from power. Trump confirmed the oil will be sold at current market rates, with the resulting funds managed by the White House to support initiatives in both nations.
Okay News reports that the announcement coincided with the swearing-in of Delcy Rodríguez as Venezuela’s interim president, while Maduro remains in US custody facing drug-trafficking charges. President Trump emphasized that restoring Venezuela as a major producer is a strategic priority intended to lower global energy costs. Major American petroleum companies are expected to meet with administration officials this week to discuss rehabilitating the country’s aging energy infrastructure.
Despite the optimism from Washington, energy analysts have expressed caution regarding the speed of recovery for Venezuela’s oil sector. Restoring the nation’s output to its former peak may require tens of billions of dollars in investment and several years of technical repairs.
While the US administration frames the acquisition as a recovery of assets lost during previous nationalizations, experts note that the long-term stability of the region will be the deciding factor for any significant private investment.
