Trump Announces 'Historic' US-Venezuela Oil Deal, Opposition Raises Concerns

President Donald Trump announced on Friday that the United States has reached a "historic" agreement with Venezuela to gain control over 65 billion barrels of its oil reserves. The President shared the news via social media, stating that the deal was negotiated by Secretary of State Marco Rubio, Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth, and Venezuela's interim President Delcy Rodriguez. This development follows a U.S. military operation nine months prior, which led to the capture of Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro.

The alleged agreement has drawn sharp criticism from the Venezuelan opposition, who have labeled it "predatory," "unconstitutional," and a "rapacious" land grab. Critics argue that an interim government lacks the legitimacy to finalize such a significant deal, with some reports suggesting it could involve a 100-year lease on several oilfields.

The announcement comes amidst rising domestic pressure on the Trump administration to address high gas prices in the U.S., compounded by a six-month war in Iran. Venezuela possesses one of the world's largest proven oil reserves, estimated at 303 billion barrels.