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Venezuela’s Delcy Rodríguez defends US oil deal amid backlash
The deal, announced by Donald Trump, would reportedly give Washington control of 65 billion barrels, while Rodríguez said Venezuela would retain ownership and sovereignty over its reserves.
Venezuela’s interim president Delcy Rodríguez defended a controversial energy deal with Donald Trump, arguing the arrangement will help the country become an “energy powerhouse” while maintaining Venezuelan ownership and sovereignty over its oil reserves, according to the Guardian Business.
Rodríguez said the benefits were “endless” and that Venezuela needs investment, technology, infrastructure, and production capacity to turn its underground resources into economic gains. She also claimed the deal would generate more than $209 billion in revenues and support development efforts.
Trump announced the agreement as a “groundbreaking” transaction, calling it historic and saying it more than doubles American oil reserves. Hours after Maduro was seized on 3 January, Trump warned Rodríguez that she could face even worse consequences if she did not comply.
The Guardian Business reported that details of the contract remain sparse, but it is said to involve Washington taking control of 65 billion barrels of Venezuelan oil reserves. The article also cites Venezuela’s estimated 303 billion barrels of proven crude reserves, compared with Saudi Arabia’s 268 billion and Iran’s 208 billion.
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