Donald Trump announced a multibillion-dollar sale of Venezuelan oil to the United States

President Donald Trump announced this Tuesday that Venezuela's interim authorities will sell between 30 and 50 million barrels of oil to the United States at market price, in a measure that the White House presents as a key step to stabilize energy prices, rebuild the Venezuelan oil industry and ensure that the revenues are used for the benefit of both the Venezuelan people and U.S. interests.

In a message posted on his Truth Social network, Trump stated that the crude oil, described as "high quality," will be transported directly to U.S. ports by storage vessels.

The president added that the revenues caused by the sale will be under his direct control to ensure that they are not diverted by corruption and that they contribute to the economic recovery of Venezuela after the recent fall of Nicolás Maduro's regime.

"I have asked the Secretary of Energy, Chris Wright, to execute this plan immediately," Trump wrote, underscoring the urgent nature of the initiative. The announcement comes weeks after the U.S. military operation that resulted in the capture and transfer of Maduro to the United States to face drug trafficking and weapons charges, and in the installation of interim authorities in Caracas.

The Trump administration has defended the measure as a mutually beneficial strategy. On one hand, access to millions of additional barrels would help contain international oil prices, a central objective of the president's energy policy.

On the other hand, it would make it possible to reactivate a Venezuelan oil industry that, despite having the world's largest proven reserves, estimated at about 303 billion barrels, is in critical condition after decades of mismanagement, sanctions, and lack of investment.

In statements to the media, Trump maintained that U.S. companies could bring Venezuelan oil fields back into operation within up to 18 months.

He acknowledged that the task will require "a tremendous amount of money," but he assured that private companies will initially assume the costs, with the expectation of being reimbursed later by the U.S. government or through the revenues caused by production.

The president also made it clear that his administration seeks to expand the presence of U.S. energy companies in Venezuela. Currently, Chevron is the only major U.S. company that keeps operations in the country.

Others such as ExxonMobil and ConocoPhillips left Venezuela almost two decades ago, after then-dictator Hugo Chávez nationalized their assets. Trump blocked business with the Venezuelan state oil company in 2019 as part of his pressure on Maduro, but he now keeps that a new political framework opens opportunities for the return of private investment.

Energy Secretary Chris Wright is scheduled to meet this week with Exxon and ConocoPhillips executives to discuss the future of Venezuelan oil, according to U.S. media.

Wright has been tasked with leading the administration's efforts to rebuild the energy infrastructure of the South American country, a task that several analysts consider costly and technically complex, given that Venezuelan crude is heavy and difficult to refine.

The White House argues that U.S. control of oil revenues is essential to prevent the funds from being embezzled and to ensure that they are allocated to Venezuela's institutional and social stabilization.

Trump has insisted that "having an oil-producing Venezuela is good for the United States," since it increases global supply and helps keep energy prices low.