US-Venezuela Oil Deal Sparks Controversy and Protests

The US-Venezuela oil deal has been hailed as 'the greatest in history' by some, but critics argue it's an illegitimate resource grab. In January 2026, the US military captured Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro and installed his vice president, Delcy Rodriguez, as interim leader.

The US has since collected over $13 billion from approximately 50 million barrels of Venezuelan oil sales, with major buyers including the US, refineries in the Persian Gulf, India, and Spain. The proceeds have been routed through controlled accounts, initially managed via Qatar and later under US Treasury and State Department supervision.

The deal has sparked massive demonstrations in Venezuela, with protesters calling it unconstitutional and predatory. Critics also argue that the 100-year concessions granted to North American Blue Energy Partners (Nabep) clash with Venezuelan law, which grants only 25-year concessions.