Washington.- U.S. President Donald Trump assured this Tuesday that the Government of Venezuela, now led by the acting president, Delcy Rodríguez, is willing to give them 30 to 50 million barrels of oil that will be sold in the U.S. market.
The president described the millions of barrels in a Truth Social post as “high-quality and authorized oil in the United States.”
Trump added that he will be in charge of controlling the money from the sale of oil in the local market “to ensure that it is used for the benefit of the Venezuelan people and the United States.”
Washington’s decision to access Venezuelan oil comes after the capture of President Nicolás Maduro on January 3, in a military operation in and around Caracas that has left more than fifty dead.
According to the Republican, it will be the Department of Energy, led by Secretary Chris Wright, who will execute the crude oil extraction plan immediately.
The between 30 and 50 million barrels will be transported in storage ships directly to the unloading docks of the United States, Trump concluded, who did not specify a time frame for the delivery of the crude.
The U.S. Claim on Venezuela’s Oil
The president’s announcement comes 24 hours after Delcy Rodríguez, Maduro’s vice president, took power in Venezuela on a provisional basis as acting president following his capture.
The Trump administration initially recognized her as its interlocutor and demanded “full access” to crude oil and other Venezuelan resources.
Washington has also assured that Rodríguez is “cooperating,” while the acting president has expressed her willingness to work on a joint agenda without ceasing to demand Maduro’s return.
Venezuela possesses the largest crude oil reserves in the world, but various experts have pointed out that its production is far below its potential due to years of sanctions and lack of investment.
Major American oil companies, such as Chevron and ExxonMobil, have shown interest in reactivating the industry under US control, viewing the operation as an opportunity to expand their businesses and secure high-quality crude oil supply.
