Trump Announces Venezuela Supplying Oil to US Indefinitely Under Presidential Control

The United States has executed what may be history’s largest energy sector takeover, asserting control with Venezuela supplying oil to the US indefinitely. President Trump declared on Truth Social that money from oil sales “will be controlled by me, as President,” with crude brought directly to American unloading docks.
Energy Secretary Chris Wright received direct orders to execute the deal, which grants the US and private companies “total access” to Venezuela’s oil industry with Venezuela supplying oil to the US indefinitely. Trump specifically named interim President Delcy Rodríguez as the figure expected to facilitate this unprecedented arrangement, fundamentally reshaping Venezuelan sovereignty over natural resources.
China’s foreign ministry issued a sharp rebuke, asserting Venezuela “enjoys full and permanent sovereignty over its natural resources and economic activities.” Beijing argued that US demands violate international law and infringe upon Venezuelan sovereignty, particularly concerning as China currently purchases approximately 80% of Venezuela’s crude exports, now threatened by Venezuela supplying oil to the US indefinitely.
The operation includes high-stakes naval seizures of vessels connected to Venezuela’s oil trade. The Marinera, a Russian-flagged tanker previously known as Bella 1, was intercepted along with the Sophia in Caribbean waters. These actions risk direct confrontation with Russia, which allegedly dispatched submarine support for the vessels attempting to prevent Venezuela from supplying oil to the US indefinitely.
Venezuela’s oil production has collapsed from 3.5 million barrels per day 25 years ago to roughly 1 million bpd currently—less than 1% of global supply. Rystad Energy estimates restoring production to 1990s levels would require 15 years and up to $185 billion in capital investment to repair degraded infrastructure, even as Venezuela commits to supplying oil to the US indefinitely.