On January 6, U.S. President Donald Trump confirmed through a direct social media post that Venezuela’s provisional authorities have agreed to transfer between 30 and 50 million barrels of high-quality oil to the United States. This announcement comes in the wake of recent political and military events in Venezuela, marking an immediate shift in how Venezuelan crude oil is managed under sanctions.
Delcy Rodríguez reportedly agreed to deliver the 50 million barrels of oil to the U.S.
In his message, Trump stated:
“I am pleased to announce that Venezuela’s provisional authorities will deliver between 30 and 50 million barrels of high-quality oil. This oil will be sold at market price, and that money will be controlled by me to ensure it is used for the benefit of the people of Venezuela and the people of the United States.”
The post specifies that the crude will be transported directly on ships to U.S. ports, and the execution will be immediate. Trump did not announce a general lifting of sanctions, but rather an extraordinary mechanism for transfer and marketing under direct supervision from the White House.
This announcement comes after the capture of Nicolás Maduro and the establishment of a provisional authority backed by Washington. Trump reiterated that the United States will temporarily oversee the transition process until a new institutional order is restored.
Since 2017, the Venezuelan oil sector has been subject to sanctions that halted exports and froze assets, directly impacting the CITGO subsidiary. The presidential message does not detail permanent regulatory changes; instead, it describes a one-time large-scale operation.
Scale and Logistics
The transfer of up to 50 million barrels would involve a significant maritime operation. VLCC ships, capable of carrying up to 2 million barrels, would allow for the completion of the transfer in around 25 trips, with an estimated timeframe of five weeks or up to three months if floating storage is integrated.
At market prices, the shipment value could range from 1.8 to 3 billion dollars, taking into account customary discounts for heavy Venezuelan crude.
The post has generated immediate responses. Allies celebrated the announcement as a decisive blow to the financial structure of chavismo. Critics, however, warn of a precedent for direct management of natural resources by a foreign power.
As of this update, no additional technical statements have been released by the Department of Energy or the Treasury Department detailing the legal and operational framework. What is confirmed, for now, is what the president himself has stated: Venezuelan oil is set to play a central role in the new phase of the relationship between Washington and Caracas, under direct political control from the White House.