Donald Trump says Venezuela would give 30 to 50 million barrels of oil to the US, to be controlled by him
Business Insider·2026-01-07 02:40

Core Viewpoint - President Trump is initiating a plan to sell sanctioned Venezuelan oil, with the interim president expected to turn over between 30 and 50 million barrels, aiming to benefit both Venezuela and the US [1][4]. Group 1: Oil Supply and Logistics - The oil will be transported by storage ships directly to unloading docks in the United States, with immediate execution directed by Energy Secretary Chris Wright [2]. - Venezuela's current oil production accounts for less than 1% of global output, despite having the largest known oil reserves [5]. Group 2: Political Context and Leadership - The interim leader of Venezuela is Delcy Rodríguez, a loyalist of former President Nicolás Maduro, who has not yet indicated her willingness to cooperate with Trump's plan [3]. - Trump's comments reflect a broader strategy to reclaim Venezuela's oil reserves and revitalize its energy sector, which has suffered from sanctions and mismanagement [4]. Group 3: Economic Implications - While increased oil supply could lower costs for American consumers, it may also deter large oil companies from investing in Venezuela due to potential downward pressure on prices [5]. - The infrastructure needed for oil production and export could take years to develop, posing additional challenges to the plan [5].