Alpha News

US Begins Exploitation of Venezuelan Oil, First Sale Completed for $500 Million

Published January 15, 2026, 21:12

The United States has begun exploiting Venezuelan oil, completing its first sale worth $500 million after the arrest of Nicolás Maduro. According to the White House, this agreement, negotiated by Trump, will benefit both the US and Venezuela. New sales are expected in the coming days or weeks. Trump stated that the Venezuelan transitional authorities will deliver 30-50 million barrels of oil to the US, which is subject to sanctions. He intends to “control” the revenue from this sale and has pressured major oil companies to invest in Venezuela’s reserves, claiming they are ready to invest at least $100 billion. However, the head of ExxonMobil said it is “impossible to invest” in Venezuela under current conditions. According to the White House plan, Caracas has no say in the exploitation of the oil, and Trump has warned companies to deal directly with him. To protect the revenue from seizure, Trump signed a decree placing Venezuelan assets, including oil revenues, located on US soil under special protection. This move has sparked debate about Venezuela’s sovereignty over its natural resources.