Trump Announces Transfer of Venezuelan Oil to the U.S.
In a notable shift in U.S.-Venezuelan relations, President Donald Trump has announced that the United States will receive up to 50million barrels of Venezuelan oil. This decision includes the management of the oil revenues directly by his administration.
Trump made the announcement on Wednesday via a post on his social media platform, “Truth Social,” following reports of ongoing discussions between U.S. and Venezuelan officials about the export of sanctioned Venezuelan crude.
The President specified that Venezuelan authorities would supply between 30 and 50million barrels, which will be sold at global market prices, with the U.S. government overseeing the financial proceeds.
He stated that these funds would be managed “to ensure their use for the benefit of both the American and Venezuelan peoples,” indicating a significant U.S. role in overseeing a key resource of Venezuela.
* Focus on Reform Over Elections
In earlier comments, Trump emphasized that his administration is not prioritizing Venezuelan elections at this time, asserting that the immediate focus is on “reforming Venezuela.”
He mentioned that Washington is only engaging with officials who have recently taken office, referring specifically to acting Venezuelan President Delcy Rodríguez, and noted that elections “will be held in due time.”
Despite his claims of non-interference in other nations' political affairs, Trump has shown a keen interest in Venezuela's substantial oil reserves, which are among the largest globally, according to Agence France-Presse.
* Venezuelan Response: Sovereignty Asserted
In response, acting President Delcy Rodríguez firmly stated that “no foreign agent governs Venezuela,” emphasizing national sovereignty on her first day in office.
This response follows a swift U.S. military operation that resulted in the arrest of President Nicolás Maduro and the deaths of 55 members of Venezuelan and Cuban forces.
Rodríguez reacted to Trump's claims of U.S. management of Venezuelan affairs, asserting that the Venezuelan government alone is responsible for the country’s governance.
* Mourning and Defiance
In a televised address, Rodríguez declared a week of mourning for the victims of the U.S. attack, affirming that the Venezuelan people are prepared to defend their nation.
Rodríguez, a loyal ally of Maduro, was sworn in as acting president on Monday, leading a government that includes influential figures such as hardline Interior Minister Diosdado Cabello and Defense Minister Vladimir Padrino López.
* Constitutional Context and Election Possibilities
According to the Venezuelan constitution, Rodríguez's interim presidency lasts 90 days, with the option to extend for an additional three months by the National Assembly's decision.
If the presidency is officially declared vacant, law mandates that presidential elections be called within 30 days.
As these events unfold, Venezuela finds itself at a pivotal junction, balancing national sovereignty and resource control amid foreign interventions that place its oil wealth at the center of a complex political landscape.
