The United States has completed the first sale of Venezuelan crude oil under a recently agreed $2 billion energy deal, a U.S. administration official told reporters on Wednesday, marking a key early move in Washington’s efforts to tap into Caracas’s vast oil reserves.
The initial tranche of oil sold was valued at about $500 million, with additional sales expected in the coming days and weeks as part of the broader agreement, the official said.
Proceeds from the transaction are being held in U.S.-controlled bank accounts, including one in Qatar deemed a neutral venue to guard against potential seizure.
This development follows a dramatic escalation earlier this month when the United States launched military strikes in Venezuela and announced the capture of President Nicolás Maduro and his wife, Cilia Flores — astonishing events that have reshaped U.S.–Venezuela relations and regional geopolitics.
President Donald Trump has signaled his administration’s intention to integrate Venezuelan oil into global markets and to bring U.S. energy companies into the rebuilding of the South American nation’s oil sector.
Energy officials say the U.S. is securing higher prices for Venezuelan crude than were previously obtained under Caracas’s own sales arrangements.
The first sale of oil represents a significant economic milestone for the new U.S.-led transition framework and underscores Washington’s broader strategy to leverage Venezuela’s energy assets. More sales are anticipated as the United States continues to manage Venezuelan oil exports amid the ongoing political transition.
