Trump Announces Venezuelan Oil Deal Amid Post-Maduro Capture Tensions

President Donald Trump announced Tuesday that Venezuela will provide between 30 and 50 million barrels of oil to the United States, pledging that proceeds from the sale will “benefit the people” of both countries. The deal, potentially worth up to $2.8 billion at current oil prices, comes just days after a controversial U.S. military operation to capture Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro.

The White House is now organizing a meeting with major U.S. oil company executives on Friday to discuss future opportunities in Venezuela. Representatives from energy giants Exxon, Chevron and ConocoPhillips are expected to attend, according to a source familiar with the plans who requested anonymity.

The announced oil transfer would represent approximately two and a half days of U.S. supply, as the country consumes roughly 20 million barrels daily of oil and related products, according to the U.S. Energy Information Administration.

Despite possessing the world’s largest proven crude reserves, Venezuela currently produces only about one million barrels per day, significantly below U.S. production levels of 13.9 million barrels daily reported in October.

Venezuela’s government has not yet publicly confirmed the oil arrangement Trump described.

Rising Death Toll and Regional Tensions

Meanwhile, Venezuelan officials revealed Tuesday that at least 24 Venezuelan security officers were killed during the U.S. operation to capture Maduro. This adds to the human cost already reported by Cuba, which confirmed that 32 of its military and police personnel working in Venezuela died during the raid.

“Their spilled blood does not cry out for vengeance, but for justice and strength,” Venezuela’s military wrote in an Instagram post. “It reaffirms our unwavering oath not to rest until we rescue our legitimate President.”

Seven U.S. service members were also injured in the operation, according to Pentagon officials. Five have already returned to duty, while two continue recovering from gunshot wounds and shrapnel injuries.

Venezuela’s Attorney General Tarek William Saab described the U.S. operation as a “war crime” and said prosecutors would investigate the deaths of what he called “dozens” of officers and civilians.

Rodriguez Pushes Back Against Trump

Venezuela’s acting president, Delcy Rodriguez, responded defiantly to Trump’s recent warnings that she would face consequences worse than Maduro’s if she fails to align Venezuela with U.S. interests, including granting access to American energy companies.

“Personally, to those who threaten me: My destiny is not determined by them, but by God,” Rodriguez said Tuesday in an address to government agricultural and industrial sector officials.

Trump’s administration has taken an aggressive stance toward the new Venezuelan leadership, with the president explicitly warning Rodriguez to “do what’s right” or face severe consequences.

Oil Industry Implications

The potential reopening of Venezuela’s oil sector to American companies comes with significant regional complications. ExxonMobil is currently developing a major offshore oil deposit in neighboring Guyana, which has been the subject of a territorial dispute with Venezuela.

Venezuela’s previous government had revived this century-old border conflict following Exxon’s 2015 discovery, taking steps to annex the remote Essequibo region that comprises about two-thirds of Guyana’s territory. Venezuelan officials, including Rodriguez, had previously leveled accusations against both Guyana’s leadership and ExxonMobil, with lawmakers even considering legislation to ban companies operating in Guyana from future work in Venezuela.

Public Opinion and Political Response

Public opinion in the U.S. remains divided over the capture of Maduro. A Washington Post-SSRS poll conducted over the weekend found about 40% of Americans approve of the military operation, while a similar percentage oppose it, with roughly 20% still undecided.

The poll also revealed that nearly half of Americans (45%) oppose the U.S. taking control of Venezuela and choosing its government. About 90% believe Venezuelans should determine their own future leadership.

Trump has expressed frustration at what he perceives as a lack of recognition for the operation’s success, particularly from Democrats. “You know, at some point, they should say, ‘You know, you did a great job. Thank you. Congratulations.’ Wouldn’t it be good?” Trump remarked Tuesday at a House Republican retreat.

The president emphasized that both his administration and the previous Biden administration had targeted Maduro, with Biden increasing the reward for information leading to Maduro’s arrest to $50 million last year before Trump doubled it to $50 million in August.

International Fallout

The Maduro capture has intensified concerns about U.S. foreign policy in the Western Hemisphere. Trump has recently renewed calls for acquiring Greenland from Denmark and threatened military action against Colombia for its role in cocaine trafficking, while administration officials have issued warnings to Cuba.

Colombia’s Foreign Affairs Minister Rosa Villavicencio announced Tuesday she will meet with the U.S. Embassy’s charge d’affaires to formally protest Trump’s recent characterization of Colombia’s president as “a sick man who likes making cocaine and selling it to the United States.”

“It is necessary for the Trump administration to know in more detail about all that we are doing in the fight against drug trafficking,” Villavicencio said.

European leaders from France, Germany, Italy, Poland, Spain, and the United Kingdom joined Danish Prime Minister Mette Frederiksen in defending Greenland’s sovereignty on Tuesday, stating firmly: “Greenland belongs to its people. It is for Denmark and Greenland, and them only, to decide on matters concerning Denmark and Greenland.”

Maduro pleaded not guilty to federal drug trafficking charges in a U.S. courtroom on Monday following his capture during the weekend raid, where he was reportedly surrounded by Cuban guards.