US President Donald Trump has announced a deal granting the United States control over the majority of Venezuela's oil reserves, which exceed 65 billion barrels, according to infohub.kz.
The negotiations were conducted by the White House administration with Venezuela's interim government, led by acting President Delcy Rodríguez, who assumed the post after US forces removed Nicolás Maduro from the country in January 2026. Trump said the deal would more than double US oil reserves without any cost to American taxpayers.
The development of the devastated infrastructure will be undertaken by major American private energy companies, which will invest billions of dollars. Options for long-term leases of the fields, up to 100 years, are being discussed. Revenue streams will be monitored to fund the needs of both the US and the Venezuelan people.
Amid this alliance, Venezuelan authorities have begun considering leaving OPEC to free themselves from quotas and maximize production in the long term.
As other foreign media report, the US Strategic Petroleum Reserve (SPR) is currently at its lowest level in 40 years. Additionally, wars in the Middle East (with Iran) and in Ukraine have disrupted global supply stability, raising fuel prices.
Trump views this agreement as the foundation of his "Monroe Doctrine" to ensure US energy dominance in the Western Hemisphere for generations to come.