**Title: White House Unveils Details of Trump's Venezuela Oil Deal**
**Date: September 1, 2026**
The White House has disclosed new information regarding President Donald Trump’s initiative to access Venezuela's oil industry, revealing a significant deal that will grant the Pentagon a stake in approximately 20% of the country’s extensive oil reserves. This announcement was made public through a fact sheet released by the Trump administration on Monday.
Under the terms of the agreement, the United States will establish a private joint venture with North American Blue Energy Partners (NABEP), a company owned by Venezuelan businessman Alejandro Betancourt. NABEP is currently the second-largest operator in Venezuela's oil sector, following Chevron.
In a statement, Betancourt expressed optimism about the deal, highlighting Venezuela's wealth of natural resources and the potential benefits for both Venezuelans and Americans. He stated that NABEP will invest $100 billion in new oil infrastructure, aiming to revitalize the country's oil production capabilities.
The deal allocates a 35% ownership stake in the joint venture to the Pentagon’s Office of Strategic Capital. Additionally, the U.S. government will secure the right to purchase 20% of the oil output at cost, a provision arranged through the State Department. This agreement is framed by the White House as a means to ensure "energy dominance for the next century."
The agreement was formally signed by Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth and Secretary of State Marco Rubio. As part of the arrangement, Venezuela’s interim President Delcy Rodriguez has granted NABEP 100-year rights over 17 oil fields that are estimated to contain proven reserves of 65 billion barrels. Many of these fields were previously managed by Russian or Chinese companies, according to the White House.
The administration noted that the majority of the oil fields to be operated by NABEP were once under the control of foreign firms or individuals linked to former Venezuelan leaders Nicolas Maduro and Hugo Chavez. This shift marks a significant pivot in the management of Venezuela's oil resources.
Despite the ambitious nature of the agreement, some analysts have expressed skepticism about its potential impact on Venezuela's oil production. They caution that reviving the country's oil output could take years, even as Trump and his administration promote the deal as an opportunity to establish a new oil powerhouse in the Western Hemisphere.
In a recent press conference, Trump acknowledged that U.S. consumers might not see immediate changes in gasoline prices as a result of the deal. When asked about the timeline for potential price reductions, he suggested that it could take "a little bit," downplaying analyst forecasts that indicate a longer recovery period. "If it was two years, you know, that’s a short period of time," he remarked.
The President also emphasized that the deal would provide a crucial source for replenishing the U.S. strategic oil reserves, which have been depleted amid ongoing conflicts affecting global oil shipments, particularly the war with Iran. He noted that Venezuela's heavy oil would also be utilized in the production of asphalt and other goods.
As the situation develops, the implications of this deal for both U.S. energy policy and Venezuela's economic landscape remain to be seen. The administration's focus on Venezuela's oil sector reflects a broader strategy to secure energy resources while navigating the complex geopolitical landscape of Latin America.