US President Donald Trump has outlined a new Venezuela oil plan days after the capture of Nicolás Maduro, saying interim authorities in Caracas will supply between 30 and 50 million barrels of sanctioned crude to the United States, with sales at market prices and proceeds placed under direct presidential control.
Trump disclosed the arrangement in a Truth Social post, calling it his first concrete strategy on Venezuela oil since the military operation that led to Maduro’s detention. The announcement signals a shift in Washington’s energy approach while also tying oil revenues to political objectives in the South American country.
Venezuela oil deal, valuation and control of funds
In his post, Trump wrote: “I am pleased to announce that the Interim Authorities in Venezuela will be turning over between 30 and 50 MILLION Barrels of High Quality, Sanctioned Oil, to the United States of America,”. A Reuters estimate places the value of this Venezuela oil cargo at up to $2 billion, based on prevailing crude benchmarks.
Trump further stated: “This Oil will be sold at its Market Price, and that money will be controlled by me, as President of the United States of America, to ensure it is used to benefit the people of Venezuela and the United States!” The comments underline that the White House intends to manage Venezuela oil revenues rather than handing funds directly to local actors.
Venezuela oil logistics, storage and export constraints
According to Trump, Energy Secretary Chris Wright has been instructed to carry out the Venezuela oil plan without delay. Trump said, “It will be taken by storage ships, and brought directly to unloading docks in the United States,” indicating that existing tanker capacity and US port facilities will handle these sanctioned supplies once transfer from Venezuelan control occurs.
Venezuela currently holds millions of barrels of crude on tankers and in onshore tanks that cannot depart under an oil export blockade introduced by the Trump administration in mid-December. The fresh Venezuela oil arrangement could help clear some of that stranded inventory while still keeping US leverage over the broader sanctions framework imposed on Caracas.
The table below summarises key figures linked to the Venezuela oil announcement:
| Detail | Figure / Description |
|---|---|
| Oil volume offered | Between 30 and 50 million barrels |
| Estimated value | Up to $2 billion (Reuters) |
| Venezuelan security officials killed | At least 24 |
| Market reaction | US crude prices fell more than 1.5% |
Venezuela oil context, military action and political response
The agreement over Venezuela oil is being portrayed by Trump as proof that the Venezuelan government is reacting to pressure from Washington. US forces carried out a dead-of-night operation to seize Maduro, and the bombing in Venezuela killed at least 24 security officials, intensifying tensions and drawing criticism from Caracas.
Senior Venezuelan officials describe Maduro’s capture as a kidnapping and accuse the United States of seeking control of the country’s vast Venezuela oil reserves. They argue that the earlier US oil blockade and the latest cargo transfer both form part of a broader strategy aimed at influencing internal political outcomes in Venezuela.
Trump had previously declared that the United States would take control of Venezuelan oil resources, and the new Venezuela oil plan appears to advance that position. As part of the diplomatic and commercial outreach, the White House is preparing an Oval Office meeting on Friday with executives from Exxon, Chevron and ConocoPhillips to discuss Venezuela, according to an Associated Press report.
Following Trump’s remarks, US crude futures dropped more than 1.5%, reflecting expectations that Venezuela oil shipments to American refiners will increase. For business leaders, the development links geopolitical risk, sanctions policy and energy supply, while leaving the long-term outlook for Venezuela oil exports and domestic recovery tied closely to decisions made in Washington.
