Trump Says Venezuela Must Buy Only U.S. Goods with New Oil Deal

Kathmandu — Former U.S. President Donald Trump has stated that Venezuela must purchase goods exclusively from the United States using revenue from a new oil deal. Sharing the update on social media platform Truth Social, Trump emphasized that Venezuela should buy U.S.-made products, including agricultural goods, medicines, medical equipment, and machinery to improve the electrical grid and energy centers.

Trump added, “Venezuela is now committed to making the U.S. its primary trade partner. This is a smart decision that benefits both Venezuela and America.”

While Washington has not officially commented on the new agreement, Venezuela’s interim President Delcy Rodríguez confirmed that the country is ready to move forward with the oil deal.

Previously, the U.S. had stated that control over Venezuela’s oil sales would remain under American supervision indefinitely, including decisions on how the revenue would be used.

Venezuela is home to the world’s largest oil reserves, with approximately 303 billion barrels of crude oil, accounting for nearly 20% of global oil reserves, according to the U.S. Energy Information Administration. Despite this, the country’s oil production remains low.

In a separate development, the U.S. military reportedly carried out a surprise operation in Caracas, capturing President Nicolás Maduro and his wife, Cilia Flores. Trump announced that the U.S. would maintain governance until a “safe and proper transfer of power” occurs in Venezuela.

The reported operation occurred around 2 a.m. local time, with explosions heard multiple times. Following the operation, the Venezuelan government declared a state of emergency, while Trump confirmed that Maduro and his wife were in U.S. custody.