Washington- US President Donald Trump said on Tuesday that Venezuela would provide between 30 million and 50 million barrels of oil to the United States at prevailing market prices, claiming that proceeds from the deal would be used “to benefit the people” of both countries.
Trump’s remarks come amid heightened tensions following a US military operation that resulted in the capture of Venezuelan leader Nicolás Maduro and his transfer to the United States to face federal drug trafficking charges. The announcement has intensified debate over the future of Venezuela’s oil industry and Washington’s expanding role in the country.
According to the White House, a high-level meeting is scheduled for Friday with senior executives from major US energy companies, including ExxonMobil, Chevron, and ConocoPhillips, to discuss Venezuela. The Trump administration has been pressing Caracas to open its oil sector more broadly to American investment and technical expertise.
With global oil prices hovering around $56 per barrel, the proposed transfer could be worth up to $2.8 billion. By comparison, the United States consumes roughly 20 million barrels of oil and petroleum products per day, meaning the Venezuelan supply would cover up to two-and-a-half days of US demand, according to data from the US Energy Information Administration.
Despite holding the world’s largest proven crude oil reserves, Venezuela currently produces only about one million barrels per day, far below its historical output and well under the US daily production average of nearly 14 million barrels.
In Caracas, acting President Delcy Rodríguez pushed back against Trump’s warnings that she could face consequences if she fails to align Venezuela with US interests. Addressing agricultural and industrial sector officials, Rodríguez said her “destiny is determined by God, not by threats.”
Venezuela’s Attorney General Tarek William Saab said dozens of Venezuelan security personnel and civilians were killed during the US operation over the weekend, describing the incident as a potential “war crime” and announcing a prosecutorial investigation. Cuba has also confirmed that 32 Cuban military and police personnel stationed in Venezuela were killed in the raid. The Pentagon reported that seven US service members were injured, two of whom remain under medical care.
The developments have raised broader concerns about the future of Venezuelan sovereignty and energy diplomacy in the region. ExxonMobil’s major offshore oil operations in neighboring Guyana have already fueled tensions, reviving a long-running territorial dispute between Venezuela and Guyana over the Essequibo region.
Internationally, Trump’s actions have triggered unease among allies. European leaders, including those of France, Germany, Italy, Spain, Poland, and the United Kingdom, reiterated their support for Greenland’s sovereignty after Trump renewed calls for US control of the Danish territory. Colombia has also announced it will lodge a formal diplomatic complaint following Trump’s threats linked to drug trafficking allegations.
In the United States, public opinion remains divided. A recent Washington Post–SSRS poll found that about 40 percent of Americans support the military operation to capture Maduro, while a similar proportion oppose it. Nearly half of respondents said the US should not take control of Venezuela or impose a new government, emphasizing that Venezuelans should determine their own political future.
As Maduro awaits further court proceedings in New York, uncertainty continues to surround Venezuela’s political direction, the legality of US actions, and the long-term implications for global energy markets and international law.
