Trump: Venezuela delivers 50 million barrels of oil to the US after Maduro's arrest
In a remarkable development in relations between Washington and Caracas, US President Donald Trump announced that the Venezuelan interim government had agreed to deliver massive shipments of oil to the United States, following the military operation that led to the arrest of Nicolas Maduro and his transfer to US soil.
Details of the oil deal and revenue management
Trump explained via his "Truth Social" platform that the new authorities in Venezuela will deliver between 30 and 50 million barrels of high-quality oil to the United States, oil that was previously subject to strict sanctions. The US president indicated a new mechanism for handling these resources, emphasizing that the oil will be sold according to global market prices.
Trump added in his remarks: "I, as President of the United States of America, will manage those funds to ensure they are used for the benefit of the people of Venezuela and the United States," indicating the establishment of a trust fund or special financial mechanism to manage oil revenues away from previous traditional channels.
National mourning and the repercussions of the American attack
On the other hand, in the first official reaction from Caracas, Venezuelan interim president Delcy Rodríguez declared a week of national mourning. This declaration was made to honor the victims who died during the US attack on the presidential palace that resulted in Maduro's arrest.
"I have decided to declare seven days of mourning for the young men, women, and children who sacrificed their lives defending Venezuela and President Nicolás Maduro," Rodríguez said in a televised address on state television. Her statement comes amid conflicting casualty figures. Cuba and Venezuela have each reported 55 deaths among their military personnel, while Venezuelan Attorney General Tarek William Saab indicated dozens of civilian and military fatalities, with unofficial estimates suggesting between 70 and 80 civilians have been killed.
Background to the conflict and the importance of Venezuelan oil
These developments are of major strategic importance given Venezuela's position in the global energy market; the country possesses the world's largest proven oil reserves. For decades, U.S. refineries in the Gulf Coast relied heavily on Venezuelan heavy crude before political tensions and economic sanctions brought those supplies to a halt.
This announcement marks a dramatic shift in the sanctions Washington has imposed for years to isolate the Maduro regime. The move suggests the US administration's desire to restore Venezuelan oil flows to the market to stabilize prices, while simultaneously seeking political change in Caracas.
The geopolitical dimensions of the operation
The arrest of Nicolas Maduro and his transfer to the United States brings to mind historic US military operations in Latin America, such as the capture of Manuel Noriega in Panama in 1989. The presence of Cuban troops among the victims has profound implications about the extent of the alliance that existed between Havana and Caracas, and how the current shift will affect regional influence in South America and the Caribbean.
