{
  "id": 4434107,
  "title": "Rohstoff-Deal: Mehr Öl für die USA - Trump und der Venezuela-Deal",
  "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/08/30/rohstoff-deal-mehr-ol-fur-die-usa-trump-und-der-venezuela-deal",
  "topic": "business",
  "section": "Business",
  "published": "2026-08-30T13:44:06.000Z",
  "source": {
    "name": "Handelsblatt",
    "slug": "handelsblatt",
    "url": "https://www.handelsblatt.com/politik/international/rohstoff-deal-mehr-oel-fuer-die-usa-trump-und-der-venezuela-deal/100250649.html"
  },
  "original_language": "de",
  "account": "The United States has secured significant oil reserves in Venezuela, marking another step by US President Donald Trump to interfere directly in the country's oil industry. The oil business is the Venezuelan government's most important source of revenue and foreign exchange. Venezuela possesses the world's largest oil reserves, estimated at 303 billion barrels. The deal stipulates that the US will gain majority control over more than 65 billion barrels of oil reserves, constituting roughly a fifth of Venezuela's estimated reserves. A barrel equals approximately 159 liters. This will double the US's oil reserves and substantially increase supply. According to the US Energy Information Administration, the US had 46 billion barrels of oil reserves at the end of 2024, already making the nation the world's largest oil producer with an average daily output of nearly 14,000 million barrels of crude oil. The Venezuelan government anticipates over 100 billion US dollars in private investment in the oil industry, generating over 209 billion US dollars in tax revenue. A White House spokesperson told CNN that the US should retain 55% of the effective production of a new private joint venture, to be achieved through a stake in the company and guaranteed sales of produced oil at the cost of production. The affected oil fields are set to be subject to 100-year agreements. The oil in question is primarily heavy oil, which requires specialized technology for extraction and refining. US Gulf Coast refineries are specialized in handling such crude oil. Looming Venezuelan oil imports could boost refinery efficiency. For Venezuela, this means primarily the prospect of investment and higher oil production. Executive President Delcy Rodríguez hopes for a revival of the long-struggling industry, leading to jobs, higher incomes, and economic growth. Rodríguez stated that the agreement will strengthen employment and boost trade, construction, and public services as well. Whether this development reaches the populace remains to be seen. Venezuela's economy has suffered for years due to the crisis and the plunge in oil production. The government therefore relies on foreign capital and expertise to markedly increase production. A Venezuelan oil expert told \"El Nacional\" newspaper that without foreign investment, the affected fields might remain idle for another 10 to 15 years. What does the deal bring to Trump? Simply put, he can present a success at home. He promises: The American taxpayer did not spend a single penny on the deal. And he promises lower prices at the pumps for Americans, which could have risen sharply with the Iran war. A message that could strengthen the US position in the global energy market comes at a convenient time. President Trump is facing significant pressure at home due to the protracted Iran war. Parliamentary elections are due in November, where Trump's party, the Republicans, could lose their majorities in both chambers. Since when has Trump had oil on his mind? For longer. Many Democrats had accused him of attacking Venezuela solely for its oil reserves. A few days after the capture of Maduro, Trump turned his focus to oil and announced that the Venezuelan oil sale would be \"taken into the hands of the US for an indefinite period.\" US corporations were to invest and rebuild the oil industry in Venezuela. Trump repeatedly promised domestic growth and acknowledged fossil energy, taking the slogan \"Drill Baby Drill.\" What will change in the long term? Trump might attempt to further expand the US's position in the oil market. He had long advocated for states suffering from the blockaded Hormuz Strait to buy US oil in the future. The US could also use Venezuelan oil long-term to strengthen its own reserves. How important the reserves are became evident during the Iran war: In an attempt to reassure the market with rising prices, the Trump administration resorted to releasing reserves. What does the deal mean for the relationship between the two countries? The deal represents a significant shift in the relationship between the two states. Following years of confrontation and the action against Maduro, the Rodríguez government now relies on cooperation with Washington to revive the Venezuelan oil industry. Rodríguez speaks of a \"diplomatic road\" and presents the agreement as a way to make Venezuela a significant energy power again. At the same time, the government in Caracas seeks to avoid the impression of renouncing national interests. Rodríguez stresses that Venezuela retains \"ownership and sovereignty\" over its oil resources, showing the political dilemma: Caracas depends on foreign capital to revive the oil industry, but in doing so, it has opened the most important economic sector of the country wide to US interests.",
  "summary": "Die USA nahmen Venezuelas langjährigen Staatschef Nicolás Maduro gefangen. Dann nahm Trump das Öl ins Visier. Jetzt gibt es einen Deal zu Ölfeldern - was werden die Folgen sein?",
  "key_points": [
    "US secures majority control of 65 billion barrels of Venezuelan oil reserves",
    "Deal expected to double US oil reserves and increase global supply",
    "Venezuela anticipates over $209 billion in tax revenue from private investment"
  ],
  "editors_take": null,
  "illustration": null,
  "coverage": {
    "outlets": 1,
    "also_reported_by": []
  },
  "ai_generated": true,
  "disclaimer": "Summaries, key points and the editor’s take are written by software from other outlets’ reporting and may contain errors — always check the linked original."
}