Trump says U.S. to get 30-50 million barrels of oil from Venezuela at market price

By Admin

07 Jan, 2026

Introduction
U.S. President Donald Trump has announced that the United States will receive between 30 million and 50 million barrels of “high quality” oil from Venezuela at prevailing market prices. The statement, made on Tuesday (January 6, 2026) via his social media platform Truth Social, links energy policy directly with recent dramatic political and military developments in Venezuela.

Immediate execution of oil plan
According to Mr. Trump, U.S. Energy Secretary Chris Wright has been instructed to execute the oil acquisition plan immediately. The President said the oil would be transported using storage ships and delivered directly to unloading docks in the United States. He added that the funds from the transaction would be controlled by him as President, with the stated aim of benefiting both the American and Venezuelan people.

Context: U.S. raid and Maduro’s capture
The announcement came shortly after Venezuelan officials confirmed that at least 24 Venezuelan security officers were killed during a U.S. military operation conducted overnight to capture President Nicolas Maduro and transfer him to the United States to face drug-related charges. Venezuelan authorities later said the overall death toll included dozens of officers and civilians, describing the strike as a “war crime” that would be investigated by prosecutors.

Response from Venezuelan leadership
Venezuela’s acting president, Delcy Rodriguez, strongly pushed back against Mr. Trump’s warnings and remarks. Speaking to agricultural and industrial sector officials on January 6, she stated that her destiny was determined by God, not by foreign threats. Meanwhile, Venezuela’s Attorney General Tarek William Saab confirmed that prosecutors would probe the deaths resulting from the raid, without specifying whether all casualties were Venezuelan nationals.

International casualties and U.S. injuries
In addition to Venezuelan security personnel, Cuba confirmed that 32 Cuban military and police officers stationed in Venezuela were killed during the operation. The Pentagon also reported that seven U.S. service members were injured, including gunshot and shrapnel wounds. Five have since returned to duty, while two continue to recover.

Public reaction and military messaging
Following days of deserted streets after Mr. Maduro’s capture, Caracas saw large crowds waving Venezuelan flags during a state-organised show of support for the government. The Venezuelan military released a video tribute on Instagram honouring fallen security officers, accompanied by a message vowing justice, resilience, and continued resistance against what it described as foreign-backed terrorism.

U.S. political reaction and criticism
Mr. Trump criticised Democrats for not crediting him for what he called a successful military operation, arguing that there had been bipartisan agreement for years that Mr. Maduro was not Venezuela’s legitimate president. He noted that former President Joe Biden’s administration had also pursued Mr. Maduro on drug trafficking charges and had increased the reward for information leading to his arrest, a figure later doubled to $50 million under the Trump administration.

Oil value and economic significance
With crude oil trading at around $56 per barrel, the proposed transfer could be worth up to $2.8 billion. The United States consumes roughly 20 million barrels of oil and related products per day, meaning the Venezuelan supply would equate to about two and a half days of total U.S. consumption, according to the U.S. Energy Information Administration.

Meetings with oil majors and future policy
Separately, the White House is preparing for an Oval Office meeting on Friday (January 9) with executives from major oil companies, including Exxon, Chevron and ConocoPhillips. The discussions are expected to focus on Venezuela and signal the administration’s intent to open the country’s vast oil reserves to American energy companies, as Mr. Trump has stated that his administration will now effectively “run” U.S. policy toward Venezuela.

Conclusion
The announcement of a large-scale Venezuelan oil transfer to the United States underscores how closely energy policy, foreign relations and military action have become intertwined. While the deal could provide a short-term boost to U.S. oil supply, it unfolds against a backdrop of high casualties, political confrontation and international tension, raising significant questions about the long-term implications for Venezuela, the region and global energy markets.