Donald Trump, following the spectacular capture of Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro by U.S. forces, announced a gargantuan oil deal that places the United States in the heart of Venezuela’s energy vision. Trump declared on Tuesday, January 6, 2026, that Venezuela’s “Interim Authorities” will deliver between 30 million and 50 million barrels of high-quality oil to the United States.
Such a move is part of a larger effort to stabilize global energy prices and undermine the power of sanctioned trade routes. “This Oil will be sold at its Market Price, and that money will be controlled by me, as President of the United States of America, to ensure it is used to benefit the people of Venezuela and the United States!” Trump posted. The President has already told the Energy Secretary Chris Wright to immediately implement the plan. The oil, much of it stored on tankers prevented from reaching China, will be sent straight to U.S. Gulf Coast refineries.
Impact on Global Markets + China
The deal is a strategic hit to Beijing, which has been Venezuela's main oil buyer for more than a decade. Through these bypassed 30–50 million barrels, the U.S. is effectively recapturing much of the Western Hemisphere's wealth.
Market Reactions:
- U.S. Crude Prices: fell about $1 a barrel once news broke, signaling investor conviction to ramp up the supply. Domestically,
- Gas Prices: Analysts argue while the short-term declines at the pump can be relatively minor, the sustained integration of Venezuelan crude could reduce costs by 15 to 30 cents a gallon.
Restoring Venezuela’s “Broken” Infrastructure
Trump also indicated Friday an upcoming White House meeting with the CEOs of ExxonMobil, Chevron and ConocoPhillips. The idea is to enable these "Great American Companies" to pour billions into Venezuela's collapsing oil facilities, which have been pumping about a third of their 1990s output. And while the “Interim Government,” under Delcy Rodríguez, handles the transition at the moment, Trump has made clear that the U.S. will remain “strongly involved” in the nation’s energy industry to avoid “drug terrorism” and mismanagement in future.
