Washington, Jan 7 (.) Venezuela and the United States have reached an agreement that could see up to “USD 2 billion worth of Venezuelan crude” shipped to the US, President Donald Trump announced.
The deal will help redivert some oil away from China and help alleviate pressure caused by Venezuela’s production cuts.
Trump described the agreement as evidence that Caracas is “complying with his demands for greater access for US oil companies,” after he warned of “stricter action” if the country did not open its energy sector.
Donald Trump had stated that a core objective of the recent military operation in Venezuela was to place the country’s oil sector under US control, and give US oil companies the ability to rebuild there.
Trump said that the US wants Venezuela’s interim president to grant “total access” to the nation’s resources. “We need total access. We need access to the oil and to other things in their country that allow us to rebuild their country,” he stated during a press interaction on Air Force One.
He added that Delcy Rodríguez is “cooperating” with Washington and that his administration is engaging with “the people that just got sworn in.”
When asked about Rodríguez’s situation, Trump said she “will face a situation probably worse than Maduro.”
The announcement comes after a US export blockade imposed in mid-December, which left large amounts of Venezuelan crude stranded on tankers and in storage.
This blockade was part of broader US pressure on President Nicolás Maduro’s government, culminating in US forces capturing Maduro and his wife.
Trump also said that Venezuela would provide between “30 million and 50 million barrels” of sanctioned oil, which would be sold at market prices, with the proceeds controlled by his administration to ensure benefits for both Venezuelans and Americans.
Trump said that he has directed Energy Secretary Chris Wright to supervise the operation, ensuring that the oil is transported from vessels directly to US ports.
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