US to Control Venezuelan Oil Sales Indefinitely After Historic Energy Takeover

The United States has announced plans to maintain indefinite control over Venezuela’s oil sales following the recent capture of President Nicolás Maduro. The White House confirmed it will oversee all future crude production sales from the South American nation’s vast petroleum reserves, marking an unprecedented move in international energy relations with Venezuela supplying oil to the US indefinitely.
Energy Secretary Chris Wright outlined the administration’s strategy, stating the US would market Venezuelan crude and use proceeds to “benefit the Venezuelan people.” The plan encompasses both existing stockpiles—approximately 50 million barrels of blockaded crude worth up to $3 billion—and all future production from Venezuela’s oil fields, ensuring Venezuela continues supplying oil to the US indefinitely.
The takeover extends beyond existing reserves. Wright emphasized at a Goldman Sachs energy conference that controlling oil flow and cash from sales provides significant leverage to drive necessary changes in Venezuela. “We’re going to market the crude coming out of Venezuela,” he stated, adding that this arrangement would continue “indefinitely going forward.”
The announcement coincides with aggressive US naval operations, including the seizure of Russian-flagged oil tanker Marinera and a second vessel, the Sophia, in the Caribbean. These ships were allegedly part of a shadow fleet transporting oil for Russia, Iran, and Venezuela, raising tensions with Moscow, which reportedly deployed a submarine to protect the vessels.
Vice President JD Vance reinforced the policy’s strategic nature, telling Fox News that Venezuela could only sell oil “so long as you serve America’s national interest.” The move threatens to disrupt Venezuela’s oil exports to China, which currently purchases about 80% of its crude, potentially forcing Beijing to seek alternative suppliers at higher prices as Venezuela commits to supplying oil to the US indefinitely.