Donald Trump Announces US Deal to Control 65 Billion Barrels of Venezuelan Oil Reserves

Donald Trump has announced an agreement that he claims would grant the United States majority control over 65 billion barrels of Venezuela's proven oil reserves. The former President made the statement without providing specific details on the terms or timeline of such a deal, which would represent a considerable shift in geopolitical control over energy resources.

Venezuela possesses the largest proven oil reserves globally, with official figures often cited at over 300 billion barrels. Any US-controlled stake of this magnitude would dramatically restructure the South American nation's economic sovereignty, which has been under sustained Western sanctions for years. These sanctions, ostensibly aimed at promoting democracy, have crippled Venezuela's oil industry, impacting its ability to export crude and generate revenue.

Western powers, particularly the US, have long viewed Venezuela as a strategic interest due to its vast energy wealth. Control over these reserves would bolster the petrodollar system, further entrenching dollar hegemony, and secure a significant energy supply independent of traditional Middle Eastern sources. Such an arrangement would allow Washington to exert substantial leverage over global oil markets.