Trump Announces U.S. to Secure 30-50 Million Barrels of Venezuelan Oil Amid Demands to Expel China and Russia
WASHINGTON – President Donald Trump has declared that the United States will receive between 30 million and 50 million barrels of high-quality Venezuelan oil from the country’s interim authorities, to be sold at market price with proceeds benefiting both nations. The announcement, posted on Truth Social on Tuesday evening, comes as the Trump administration ramps up pressure on Venezuela to sever ties with adversarial nations like China, Russia, Iran, and Cuba.[1][2]
Trump’s statement frames the oil transfer as a strategic maneuver to redirect Venezuela’s vast crude reserves – the largest in the world – away from U.S. rivals and toward American interests. “Interim authorities in Venezuela will be turning over between 30 and 50 million barrels of high-quality sanctioned oil to the U.S.,” Trump wrote. “The oil will be sold at its market price and the funds controlled by the U.S. to ensure it is used to benefit the people of Venezuela and the United States!”[1][2]
White House Demands Exclusive Partnership
Sources familiar with the administration’s negotiations revealed that the White House has issued stark ultimatums to Venezuela’s interim president, Delcy Rodriguez. First, the regime must expel China, Russia, Iran, and Cuba, cutting all economic ties with these countries. Second, Venezuela must commit to partnering exclusively with the U.S. on oil production and prioritize selling its heavy crude to American buyers.[1]
Secretary of State Marco Rubio briefed lawmakers on Monday, asserting that the U.S. holds significant leverage because Venezuela’s oil tankers are reportedly full, leaving the cash-strapped nation just weeks from financial insolvency without oil sales. “The government does intend to control the oil, taking charge of the ships, the tankers,” confirmed Senate Armed Services Committee Chairman Roger Wicker in an ABC News interview. He emphasized that no tankers would head to destinations like Havana, pushing the oil toward the open market instead.[1]
When pressed by reporters on Wednesday about the mechanics of the deal, Trump described it bluntly: “It’s just a blockade. Not going to let anybody going through that shouldn’t be going through.” This aligns with reports of a U.S. naval blockade crippling Venezuela’s oil exports, exacerbating the country’s economic woes.[1][3]
Context of Venezuela’s Crisis and U.S. Strategy
Venezuela, burdened by corruption, U.S. sanctions, and mismanagement, sits atop the world’s largest proven oil reserves but has struggled to extract and export them effectively. Recent developments have intensified the pressure: Nicolas Maduro, the longtime leader, was apprehended on Saturday on alleged drug trafficking charges, paving the way for interim governance under Rodriguez.[3]
Shipping tracker data from ertrack.com indicates Venezuela currently has about 30 million barrels of oil stored on land and another 16 million on tankers in its waters, providing a tangible stockpile for the proposed U.S. takeover.[3] At current market prices, the 30-50 million barrels could be worth up to $2.5 billion, offering a lifeline to prop up a pro-U.S. government while bolstering American energy security.[3]
The Trump administration’s playbook is clear: sideline elections and democracy rhetoric in favor of raw geopolitical leverage. Advisors believe this presents a rare chance to reshape U.S.-Venezuela relations, delivering tangible benefits to Venezuelans post-Maduro.[3] On Friday, Trump is slated to meet with oil executives at the White House to discuss ramping up Venezuelan production, with Rubio simultaneously pressing Rodriguez to oust foreign intelligence operatives.[3]
Geopolitical Implications and Expert Views
This oil power play marks an unprecedented assertion of American influence in Latin America, hinging on control over Venezuela’s extraction and export infrastructure without necessitating troop deployments, per Wicker.[1] Al Jazeera reporting highlights the administration’s framing of the deal as “leverage” to pivot Venezuelan oil from China toward the U.S.[2]
Critics may decry it as imperial overreach, but proponents argue it’s a pragmatic response to Venezuela’s self-inflicted collapse and adversarial alliances. The strategy builds on existing sanctions, now augmented by physical control of tankers and a blockade, forcing Caracas’s hand.[1][3]
As negotiations unfold, the world watches whether Rodriguez complies or if escalation follows. Trump’s Friday summit with energy leaders could signal the next phase, potentially flooding U.S. refineries with cheap heavy crude and stabilizing global prices.[3]
Broader Energy and Economic Ramifications
For the U.S., securing this oil volume – equivalent to several months of imports from key suppliers – could ease domestic pressures amid fluctuating global supplies. Venezuela’s heavy crude is particularly suited to U.S. Gulf Coast refineries, which have been starved of it due to sanctions.[1]
Economically, the funds from sales, held under U.S. oversight, promise humanitarian aid and reconstruction in Venezuela, contrasting with Maduro-era graft. Yet, questions linger: Will interim leaders deliver? Can the U.S. enforce exclusivity without military action?
Trump’s move underscores a return to muscular diplomacy, prioritizing energy dominance over multilateral niceties. As Rubio told lawmakers, Venezuela’s tanker glut buys time – but not much.[1]