Venezuela open to oil deal, says Rodríguez, as Vance claims US ‘controls’ country’s resources | Venezuela
Venezuela’s interim president, Delcy Rodríguez, defended his country’s plans to open its oil market to Washington, while Donald Trump’s vice president, JD Vance, reiterated that the US would have full control over the country’s oil supply.
Rodríguez said on Wednesday that America’s offensive to oust his predecessor, Nicolás Maduro, had put a “stain” on the countries’ relations, but added that trading with the United States was “not unusual or irregular” and that Venezuela was “open to energy relations that would benefit all parties.”
The Trump administration announced Wednesday that it will manage all sales of future crude production and oversee sales of the country’s oil worldwide as it seeks to maintain control over Venezuelan oil by seizing a pair of sanctioned tankers.
US Secretary of Energy Chris Wright said, “We will market crude oil from Venezuela.” “First we will sell this backed-up oil storage on the market, and then, going on ad infinitum, we will sell the production coming out of Venezuela.”
In an interview with Fox News, Vance said Venezuela could sell its oil only if it served U.S. interests.
“We control the energy resources, and we are telling the regime that you are allowed to sell the oil as long as you serve America’s national interest, and if you cannot serve America’s national interest, you are not allowed to sell it,” Vance said.
On Tuesday, Trump announced a deal for access to $2 billion worth of Venezuelan crude oil; It’s a sign that Venezuelan government officials are responding to Trump’s demand for U.S. oil companies to open up or risk further military intervention.
In addition to the ongoing embargo on Venezuelan oil, the US energy department said that “oil entering and exiting Venezuela will be transported only through approved channels consistent with US laws and national security interests.”
This level of control over the world’s largest proven crude oil reserves could give the Trump administration greater control over global oil supplies, allowing it to influence prices. Since the American military captured Nicolás Maduro, Trump has continued to promise that the United States will “rule” the country, despite Rodríguez backing down.
On Wednesday, Trump said Venezuela would only buy U.S.-made products with the profits it would make from any deal with Washington to sell oil.
“I have just been informed that Venezuela will ONLY purchase American Made Products with the money they will receive from the new Oil Deal,” the president said in a social media post.
Trump will meet with the heads of major oil companies at the White House on Friday to discuss ways to increase Venezuela’s oil production. However, according to reports, US oil companies are pressing for “serious guarantees” from Washington before making major investments in Venezuela.
The Financial Times reported that oil executives are expected to pressure the president to provide strong legal and financial guarantees before agreeing to commit capital to Venezuela. U.S. officials have told U.S. oil executives in recent weeks that they must quickly return to Venezuela and invest significant capital in the country to revive its stricken oil industry, Reuters reported earlier this week.
With Reuters and Agence France-Presse
