Overview
- President Donald Trump announced that interim Venezuelan authorities will turn over 30 to 50 million barrels of sanctioned oil to the United States for near‑term delivery.
- He said the cargo will be sold at market price with proceeds under his control, and he directed Energy Secretary Chris Wright to move shipments on storage tankers directly to U.S. docks.
- Venezuela’s acting president, Delcy Rodríguez, rejected Trump’s remarks, underscoring unresolved questions about consent, legality and control of the country’s oil assets.
- The White House scheduled meetings with Exxon, Chevron and ConocoPhillips, yet the companies have not committed as analysts cite legal disputes, security risks and investment needs that could reach tens of billions of dollars, with some estimates up to $100 billion.
- The announcement follows a U.S. operation that captured Nicolás Maduro and a sanctions enforcement campaign with tanker seizures and a blockade; the stated volume equals roughly two days of U.S. demand and could be worth up to about $2.8 billion at current prices.