Trump Says US Sold $13 Billion of Venezuela Oil
· news
Trump Says U.S. Has Sold More Than $13 Billion of Venezuelan Oil Since Maduro’s Ousting
The White House has been touting its success in collecting billions from the sale of Venezuelan crude oil, with President Trump claiming the U.S. had raked in more than $13 billion since ousting Nicolás Maduro. The figure comes from the sale of around 150 million barrels of oil since January, as Energy Secretary Chris Wright revealed in an interview with Semafor.
According to State Department official Michael Kozak, around $3 billion has already been disbursed from the Treasury account, with some of it going towards paying government salaries and buying oil industry supplies. However, critics argue that Washington is essentially playing both sides – ousting a government it deemed illegitimate, yet using its assets to keep the new regime in power.
The U.S. has largely left Maduro’s party in place after his ousting, cooperating closely with interim President Delcy Rodríguez, a decision that raises eyebrows about Washington’s true intentions. Critics are right to demand answers on how this money is being spent, particularly given the lack of transparency surrounding Venezuela’s oil wealth.
Congressional Democrats have pressed the administration for details on everything from audit procedures to disbursement protocols, and they have a right to do so. After all, if the U.S. is holding billions in custodial capacity for a foreign government, it should be transparent about what that entails.
Venezuela’s oil riches are not just a means to an end; they’re also a symptom of deeper issues. The country has been ravaged by years of mismanagement and corruption under Maduro’s rule – issues that the U.S. could have addressed more effectively through targeted economic sanctions rather than regime change.
The Trump administration’s actions in Venezuela will likely be viewed as a mixed bag, at best. While some may see it as a masterclass in creative diplomacy, others will view it as yet another example of Washington’s penchant for poking its nose into the affairs of other nations – with little regard for the complexities on the ground.
The $13 billion bounty raises more questions than answers about the U.S. role in Venezuela and what this means for regional stability and accountability going forward.
Reader Views
- CSCorrespondent S. Tan · field correspondent
The $13 billion windfall from Venezuelan oil sales raises more questions than answers about US motivations in Venezuela. While Washington touts its success in collecting billions, critics point out that this money is essentially propping up a regime that's still largely in place. But what gets lost in the shuffle is the crippling debt Venezuela will be left with once these funds are spent - and who will ultimately foot the bill? The US should be transparent about how it's handling this sensitive situation.
- ADAnalyst D. Park · policy analyst
The Trump administration's claims of raking in billions from Venezuelan oil sales gloss over the elephant in the room: how much of this money is actually being spent on humanitarian aid versus propping up a regime that's been complicit in Venezuela's economic collapse? Transparency is key, and given the history of corruption in Caracas, it's imperative that we demand answers on disbursement protocols. But let's not forget that targeted sanctions could have addressed mismanagement and corruption more effectively than playing custodian for Maduro's party.
- EKEditor K. Wells · editor
The US is walking a fine line in Venezuela by selling its oil and profiting from a regime change that's far from clean. It's disingenuous to frame this as a success story when, in reality, we're propping up an interim government with questionable legitimacy. The $13 billion windfall is a drop in the bucket for a country facing economic collapse, and it's unclear what concrete benefits are being achieved beyond bolstering Washington's influence in Caracas. One thing's certain: transparency is lacking on how these billions are being spent, and Congress has every right to demand answers.