President Donald Trump has announced that Venezuela’s interim authorities will transfer between 30 million and 50 million barrels of sanctioned Venezuelan crude oil to the United States, marking a significant and controversial move in global energy politics.

 Trump said the oil will be shipped directly to U.S. ports and sold at market prices, with the proceeds managed by his administration to “benefit the people of Venezuela and the United States.” The announcement comes shortly after heightened U.S.–Venezuela tensions and follows the removal of Venezuelan leader Nicolás Maduro by U.S. forces. 

The expectation of increased supply helped push U.S. crude prices down, with benchmarks like West Texas Intermediate sliding more than 1% as markets reacted to the news. 

Analysts note that while the volume represents only a few days’ worth of global consumption, the deal could reshape traditional export flows, particularly by diverting oil previously destined for China. The announcement also signals deeper U.S. involvement in Venezuela’s struggling oil sector amid ongoing geopolitical fallout.