Trump says US is taking partial control of Venezuela's oil reserves

The United States has struck a deal with Venezuela to secure "majority US control" of more than 65 billion barrels of Venezuelan oil, according to Donald Trump.

It comes nearly nine months after the US captured Venezuela's president Nicolás Maduro and spirited him to the US to face federal narcoterrorism and drug trafficking charges.

Details about private sector partners involved in the deal and how the arrangement would work are unclear.

US President Donald Trump says the US has entered an agreement with Venezuela to take control of a fifth of the South American country's vast oil reserves.

Mr Trump announced the deal in a social media post on Friday, local time, providing few details about it other than that the US had secured majority control of more than 65 billion barrels of Venezuela's proven oil reserves through a partnership with private business.

"The United States of America has just entered into an Agreement with the Country of Venezuela on, THE BIGGEST OIL DEAL IN WORLD HISTORY!" Mr Trump wrote.

"At my direction, Secretary of State Marco Rubio, and Secretary of War Pete Hegseth, working closely with Highly Respected Interim President of Venezuela, Delcy Rodriguez, and, through a partnership with private business, have secured majority U.S. control of more than 65 BILLION BARRELS of proven Oil Reserves in Venezuela, at no cost to the American Taxpayer."

The White House did not immediately reply to AP's request for comment about the private sector partners involved in the deal, and details on how the arrangement would work were not provided.

The Venezuelan government's press office did not immediately respond to a request for comment.

Mr Rubio said on X that the agreement would usher in $US100 billion ($139b) in private investment into Venezuela and lead to lower gas prices in the United States.

"This deal is a huge win for both the American and Venezuelan people," Mr Rubio posted.

The announcement comes nearly nine months after the US military at Mr Trump's direction carried out an operation to capture Venezuela's president Nicolás Maduro and spirit him to the United States to face federal narcoterrorism and drug trafficking charges.

Mr Trump faces mounting pressure to address high gas prices as the war in Iran reaches a six-month mark with no conclusion in sight.

The US has tapped its strategic petroleum reserves, which in early August fell below 300 million barrels, down by more than 100 million barrels since the start of 2026.