The United States has completed its first government-backed sale of Venezuelan crude oil worth roughly $500 million, a move that signals a dramatic shift in control over one of the world’s largest petroleum reserves following recent US intervention in the country, according to reporting from CNN.
Administration officials confirmed that additional oil sales are already being prepared as Washington accelerates efforts to monetize Venezuelan production that had been largely locked out of global markets under years of sanctions and political instability. The transactions mark the first time Venezuelan barrels are being formally marketed under US oversight.
The sales come just days after US forces captured Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro earlier this month during a military operation that upended the country’s leadership and triggered global scrutiny. President Donald Trump has since made clear that Venezuela’s oil sector is central to his administration’s economic and geopolitical strategy.
Trump claimed this week that oil companies could invest as much as $100 billion to rebuild Venezuela’s crippled energy infrastructure, though industry leaders have pushed back sharply on the feasibility of that figure. Executives from several major US oil firms expressed deep reservations during meetings at the White House, citing legal ambiguity, regulatory uncertainty, and the lack of stable commercial frameworks.
ExxonMobil CEO Darren Woods reportedly described Venezuela as “uninvestible,” warning that no major capital deployment could occur without clear ownership structures, contract protections, and enforceable rule of law. Other executives echoed similar concerns after the meeting concluded without firm commitments.
Despite corporate hesitation, the administration is pressing forward. A White House spokesperson said discussions with energy firms remain active and characterized investor interest as strong. Meanwhile, traders have begun offering Venezuelan crude at discounted prices compared with similar heavy grades from countries like Canada, an approach designed to quickly attract buyers and move volumes back into circulation.
Energy analysts note that Venezuela’s production capacity has deteriorated significantly over the past decade due to sanctions, underinvestment, and infrastructure collapse. Reviving exports at scale will require billions in repairs to wells, pipelines, and refineries.
Washington’s decision to begin selling Venezuelan oil introduces complex legal and diplomatic questions that are likely to intensify as volumes increase. Market participants, foreign governments, and international regulators will now be forced to decide how to treat Venezuelan crude entering global supply chains under unprecedented circumstances, potentially reshaping both energy flows and geopolitical alignments in the Western Hemisphere.
