Washington Takes the Keys: The US Strategy for Venezuelan Oil Control 2026

A president is gone, but the oil remains—and Washington is taking the keys. Following the abduction of Nicolas Maduro by US forces, the Trump administration's rapid moves to secure the world's largest oil reserves are reshaping the geopolitical landscape of Latin America.

US Control of Venezuelan Oil 2026: An Indefinite Takeover

On Wednesday, January 7, 2026, US Energy Secretary Chris Wright announced that the United States would control Venezuela's oil sales "indefinitely." According to officials, proceeds from these sales will be held in US Treasury accounts. While the money is slated to be shared with Caracas, the exact proportion remains undisclosed.

The announcement follows a $2 billion deal struck a day earlier, which involves the export of 30 to 50 million barrels of sanctioned crude to the US. While the Trump administration claims US oil companies are ready to invest billions, analysts warn that actual stability is still a long way off.

The Crisis of Social Spending

For the average Venezuelan, the macro-political shift translates into immediate anxiety. Tim Hunter of Oxford Economics notes that 78 percent of the national budget is earmarked for social spending. With the US holding the purse strings, any delay in fund disbursement could trigger widespread social unrest as prices for daily essentials soar.