Trump says US has entered deal with Venezuela to take control of 65 billion barrels of oil reserves
- President Trump announced on Friday that his administration has reached an agreement with Venezuela's acting President Delcy Rodríguez, negotiated by Secretary of State Marco Rubio and Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth.
- The deal involves development of 17 oil fields with proven reserves of 65 billion barrels, with potential to attract $100 billion in investment and generate over $209 billion in taxes for Venezuela.
- The agreement grants the United States a 55% effective output stake in a new private company that will hold 100-year development rights to the oil fields, making it the second-largest corporate holder of proven reserves after Saudi Aramco.
- The U.S. currently faces high gas prices averaging $4.09 per gallon, up from $3.21 a year ago, amid ongoing conflict in Iran that has disrupted Gulf oil supplies through the Strait of Hormuz.
- Energy experts warn that significant increases in Venezuelan oil production will take years due to infrastructure repair and expansion needs, and major U.S. oil companies have expressed caution about returning to the country despite past interest.
President Donald Trump announced Friday that his administration has reached a sweeping agreement with Venezuela's acting President Delcy Rodríguez regarding access to the country's vast oil reserves. The deal was negotiated by Secretary of State Marco Rubio and Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth. According to Venezuela's government statement, the agreement involves developing 17 oil fields with proven reserves of 65 billion barrels and could attract $100 billion in investment while generating over $209 billion in taxes for Caracas.
Under the agreement structure, the United States will partner with an unnamed private operator to establish a new private company that will hold the oil reserves. The U.S. will receive a 55% effective output stake, including an ownership position and rights to purchase oil at cost, with the company granted 100-year development rights. This arrangement would make the company the second-largest corporate holder of proven reserves globally, after Saudi Aramco.
The announcement comes amid significant pressure on Trump to address elevated U.S. gas prices, which currently average $4.09 per gallon compared to $3.21 a year ago. The price surge is linked to ongoing conflict in Iran that has disrupted oil flows through the Strait of Hormuz, a critical global petroleum corridor. The U.S. strategic petroleum reserve has fallen below 300 million barrels, down over 100 million barrels since early 2026.
However, energy experts caution that substantial increases in Venezuelan oil production will not materialize quickly. Infrastructure repairs and expansion will require years and billions of dollars in investment. Major U.S. oil companies have expressed interest but also caution regarding the political uncertainty and decades of deteriorated infrastructure in Venezuela.
特朗普称美国与委内瑞拉达成协议以控制650亿桶石油储备
特朗普周五宣布其政府与委内瑞拉代理总统德尔西·罗德里格斯达成了一项关于获取该国庞大石油储备的全面协议。该协议由国务卿马尔科·鲁比奥和国防部长皮特·赫格塞斯谈判达成。根据委内瑞拉政府声明，该协议涉及开发17个油田，已证实储量为650亿桶，有望吸引1000亿美元投资，同时为卡拉加斯产生超过2090亿美元的税收。
根据协议框架，美国将与一家未公开的私营运营商合作建立一家新的私营公司来掌控这些油田储备。美国将获得55%的有效产出权益，包括所有权权益和以成本价购买石油的权利，该公司获得100年的开发权。这一安排将使该公司成为全球仅次于沙特阿美的第二大已证实储量企业。
该公告发布之际，特朗普面临解决美国汽油价格高企问题的巨大压力。目前美国汽油平均价格为每加仑4.09美元，而去年同期为3.21美元。价格飙升与伊朗冲突导致的石油流经霍尔木兹海峡中断有关，该海峡是全球关键的石油运输通道。美国战略石油储备已跌至3亿桶以下，自2026年初以来下降超过1亿桶。
然而，能源专家警告称委内瑞拉石油产量的大幅增长不会迅速实现。基础设施修复和扩建需要数年时间和数十亿美元的投资。美国大型石油公司虽然表示了兴趣，但对委内瑞拉的政治不确定性和数十年来恶化的基础设施状况持谨慎态度。