Why it matters
The move underscores Washington’s strategic aim to control Venezuela’s vast oil reserves, redirecting them to U.S. markets and away from China.
Critics argue the sale represents an illegal appropriation of sovereign resources, violating international law and setting a precedent for unilateral exploitation under military pressure.
Adding tens of millions of barrels to the U.S. supply could jolt energy markets already flush with record domestic production.
The big picture:
The U.S. has long sought to weaken Venezuela’s oil‑dependent economy and reduce its geopolitical ties to China and Russia.
By seizing and selling Venezuelan crude, Washington is pursuing a dual objective: economic leverage over Caracas and energy security at home.
International law experts warn that such unilateral transfers, carried out under blockade and without recognized global authority, highlight the legal gray zone of resource exploitation during regime change.
What they're saying:
Trump said the U.S. will sell between 30 and 50 million barrels of Venezuelan crude at market prices.
He pledged to personally oversee the proceeds to ensure they “benefit the people of Venezuela and the United States.”
Energy Secretary Chris Wright has been directed to arrange the plan “immediately,” with shipments brought directly to U.S. docks.
The oil, worth up to $2.5 billion, has been piling up in Venezuelan storage tanks due to a U.S. naval blockade that cut off exports to China.
Context:
Interim president Delcy Rodríguez is struggling to stabilize Venezuela amid Trump’s demands.
Analysts warn that the sudden influx of heavy Venezuelan crude could displace Canadian imports and disrupt Gulf Coast refinery balances.
The U.S. previously sold seized Iranian crude in 2020, funneling proceeds into a terrorism victims’ fund.
Go deeper:
U.S. Intervention Sparks Outcry Over Venezuelan Sovereignty
Hossein Amiri - ahmad shirzadian
