The United States has completed the first sale of Venezuelan oil worth $500 million, according to CNN citing an administration official.

Photo: Matias Delacroix/AP

The sale decision is part of U.S. President Donald Trump's plans to access Venezuela's oil reserves following a military operation and the capture of the country's president, Nicolás Maduro, in early January. Last week, Trump stated that the oil industry is ready to invest at least $100 billion in restoring Venezuela's devastated energy sector.

However, American energy companies have expressed skepticism about these plans. At a White House meeting on January 9, ExxonMobil CEO Darren Woods noted that Venezuela remains "unattractive for investment" due to a lack of legal and commercial infrastructure. Other executives are also not ready to immediately invest billions in a country gripped by a long-term crisis.

White House press secretary Taylor Rogers emphasized that the administration is conducting "positive, ongoing discussions" with oil companies willing to make "unprecedented investments."

Recall that on January 3, U.S. forces attacked Venezuela and removed Maduro and his wife from the country. U.S. Attorney General Pam Bondi announced that Maduro and his wife will be held accountable in the United States, including for involvement in a terrorism financing scheme through drug trafficking.

Source: https://kun.uz/ru/news/2026/01/15/ssha-sovershili-pervuyu-prodaju-venesuelskoy-nefti-na-500-mln-dollarov-posle-zaxvata-maduro