The Trump administration has launched an aggressive plan to take control of Venezuela’s oil industry following the January 3 operation that led to the capture of President Nicolás Maduro, according to official U.S. statements.
The initiative, described as a “U.S.–Venezuela Energy Deal,” places oil production, revenues, and global marketing under direct U.S. oversight. All proceeds from crude sales will be held in U.S.-controlled accounts and allocated toward humanitarian relief, infrastructure repair, and long-term stabilization.
Washington will oversee the global marketing of Venezuelan crude indefinitely, while encouraging the re-entry of U.S. energy majors including Chevron, ExxonMobil, and ConocoPhillips, backed by security guarantees and large-scale private investment.
Following Maduro’s removal, Vice President Delcy Rodríguez assumed the role of interim president, and U.S. diplomatic teams have returned to Caracas to begin talks on normalization and energy-sector governance.
While some sanctions have been eased to facilitate oil exports and equipment imports, core financial and political restrictions remain in place. U.S. officials say the measures preserve leverage over future democratic reforms, as the policy reshapes Venezuela’s energy sector and potentially alters global oil supply dynamics.
