Washington, D.C. — President Donald Trump announced Tuesday that Venezuela is expected to hand over tens of millions of barrels of oil to the United States, days after a U.S. raid removed the country’s president, Nicolas Maduro, from power. Trump said the shipment would involve 30–50 million barrels of “high-quality, sanctioned” crude, with potential revenues exceeding $2 billion placed under his personal control.
It is not yet clear whether Venezuela’s new interim president, Delcy Rodriguez, has formally agreed to the transfer, how it would be executed, or what legal framework would govern the transaction. Venezuelan authorities have not responded to requests for comment.
If confirmed, the deal would mark the first major indication that the country’s military-backed government is willing to meet Washington’s unprecedented demands.
U.S. Intervention and Oil Control
Last Saturday, U.S. special forces captured Maduro and his wife, Cilia Flores, in Caracas, transporting them to New York to face trial on drug charges. Since then, Trump has asserted that the United States will “run” Venezuela and that U.S. companies will assume control over the nation’s oil industry, which holds the world’s largest proven reserves.
Rodriguez, a longtime member of Maduro’s inner circle who served as vice president and energy minister, has signaled cooperation with Washington, amid warnings from Trump that she could face consequences “probably bigger than Maduro” if she fails to comply with U.S. demands to cede control over oil production and reduce ties with Cuba, China, Iran, and Russia.
Despite these pressures, Rodriguez has at times appeared defiant, maintaining a visible alliance with security and military hardliners. “The government of Venezuela is in charge in our country, and no-one else,” she said Tuesday, asserting national sovereignty.
Violence and Casualties
The U.S. raid has already resulted in significant loss of life. Venezuela’s military reported 23 troops, including five generals, killed in the operation, while Havana listed 32 Cuban military personnel, many associated with Maduro’s security detail. Venezuela’s Attorney General cited “dozens” of civilian and military deaths, though no detailed breakdown was provided. Rodriguez has declared seven days of mourning for the victims.
Security forces remain highly visible in Caracas, with thousands of Maduro supporters mobilized by hardliners, including Interior Minister Diosdado Cabello, demanding the release of the deposed president.
Domestic and International Reactions
The White House has dismissed the possibility that Venezuela’s democratic opposition could assume power. Opposition leader Maria Corina Machado criticized Rodriguez as untrustworthy and a liaison to Russia, China, and Iran, signaling potential challenges for foreign investors.
Meanwhile, a repressive security apparatus persists: 16 journalists and media workers were briefly detained on Monday, according to a local journalists’ union, though all were later released.
Experts warn that Rodriguez faces a precarious balancing act, navigating U.S. demands while maintaining support from hardliners controlling the military, police, and intelligence services. The Venezuelan constitution stipulates that elections must be held within 30 days after Maduro is formally declared absent a process that could take up to six months.
Former Venezuelan diplomat Alfredo Toro Hardy described Trump’s claims as “unprecedented in Latin America for over a century,” noting the extraordinary assertion of control over a sovereign nation’s resources.
