The US sells its first shipment of Venezuelan oil after Maduro's arrest
The United States has officially completed its first sale of Venezuelan oil, a move that marks a significant shift in the management of Venezuela's vital oil sector since Washington assumed control of the industry following recent political developments and the arrest of President Nicolás Maduro. A US official told AFP that this transaction represents a major change in the management of Venezuela's resources.
The source, who preferred not to reveal the buyer's identity, explained that the deal was worth $500 million, stressing that this step is not an isolated one, but will be followed by other scheduled sales in the coming days or weeks, indicating a new American strategy to pump Venezuelan oil into global markets.
Details of the historic agreement and control over energy
In an official statement, White House spokeswoman Taylor Rogers said that President Donald Trump reached a "historic agreement" with Venezuela regarding energy immediately after Maduro's arrest. Rogers emphasized that the agreement was designed to directly benefit both the American and Venezuelan people, referring to a new mechanism for managing revenues.
President Trump had revealed in previous statements last week that the interim authorities in Caracas would deliver between 30 and 50 million barrels of high-quality oil, previously subject to strict sanctions, to the United States. Trump added, explaining how the funds would be used: "This oil will be sold at market price, and I, as President of the United States, will manage those funds to ensure they are used for the benefit of the people of Venezuela and the United States," noting that the proceeds would be used to purchase American products to meet needs.
The importance of Venezuelan oil in the global market
This move is of major strategic importance given Venezuela's position on the global energy map; the country possesses the world's largest proven oil reserves, concentrated primarily in the Orinoco Belt. Venezuelan oil, with its high density, has long been a vital component for US Gulf Coast refineries, which are specifically designed to process this type of heavy crude.
This US move is redrawing the map of energy flows in the Americas. After years of the Venezuelan national oil company’s infrastructure deteriorating and production falling to record lows due to mismanagement and sanctions, the US administration appears to be aiming, through this control, to rehabilitate the sector and ensure the flow of supplies, which could contribute to stabilizing global oil prices.
Economic and humanitarian dimensions
Economically, the sale of these shipments represents a potential lifeline for Venezuela's collapsing economy, which is suffering from hyperinflation and severe shortages of basic goods and medicines. Directing oil revenues toward purchasing and distributing American products could help alleviate the dire humanitarian crisis facing the Venezuelan people, while also providing the United States with debt repayments or compensation, as well as boosting American exports.
