The Trump administration says it will exert control over Venezuela’s interim authorities and manage the country’s oil sales “indefinitely,” asserting U.S. leverage after the reported ousting of Nicolás Maduro. Officials claim an agreement for Venezuela to transfer 30–50 million barrels of crude to the United States and require proceeds to be spent on American-made goods. The U.S. also seized two oil tankers amid growing international tensions. Key details of the operation — including the reported capture of Maduro — remain contested and lack independent verification.
US Says It Will Dictate Venezuela's Decisions and Control Oil Sales — Claims Spark International Concern
White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt said Venezuela's decisions would be 'dictated' by the United States (Mandel NGAN)(Mandel NGAN/AFP/AFP)
The Trump administration announced on Wednesday that it intends to exert decisive control over Venezuela’s interim authorities and to manage the country’s oil sales “indefinitely” after the reported ousting of Nicolás Maduro. White House officials framed the move as an assertion of U.S. influence in the region.
At a White House briefing, Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt said the United States currently has “maximum leverage” over Venezuela’s interim authorities and that their decisions “are going to continue to be dictated by the United States of America.” Officials described close coordination with interim leaders, while offering few operational details.
Several elements of the administration’s account — including media reports that U.S. special forces seized President Maduro and transferred him to New York — remain highly contested and lack independent verification. The White House characterized the operation as consistent with a renewed interpretation of the Monroe Doctrine, emphasizing U.S. dominance in its hemisphere.
Plans For Venezuelan Oil
According to statements from the administration, an agreement is said to call for Venezuela to transfer between 30 and 50 million barrels of crude to the United States for Washington to market and sell. President Trump also said the Venezuelan government would be required to spend oil proceeds on American-made goods, listing agricultural products, machinery, medical devices and energy equipment as examples.
U.S. Energy Secretary Chris Wright was quoted saying the United States intends to market Venezuelan crude “first this backed-up stored oil, and then indefinitely, going forward, we will sell the production that comes out of Venezuela.” Venezuela’s state oil company said it was discussing oil sales with the United States under existing commercial frameworks, but provided limited detail.
Diplomacy, Business Meetings and Naval Actions
Secretary of State Marco Rubio told lawmakers on Capitol Hill that the administration was not “just winging it” despite criticism of the post-Maduro planning. Trump said he would meet with executives from major U.S. oil companies to discuss investment opportunities in Venezuela’s deteriorating petroleum infrastructure, though no firms had publicly committed to specific investments at the time of reporting.
Washington also moved to assert control at sea, seizing two oil tankers, including a vessel described by U.S. authorities as Russian-linked. The U.S. said one tanker had been deemed stateless after flying a false flag; Moscow condemned the seizure. The administration appears to be relying on naval pressure and the threat of further force rather than large-scale ground deployments.
Note: Several key claims in original reports — including the capture and transfer of President Maduro — are disputed and have not been independently verified. Readers should treat those claims with caution while further information emerges.
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