The Trump administration has laid out strict political and economic conditions for Venezuela to resume oil production and normal exports.
The US has reportedly told Venezuela’s interim leadership that Caracas must cut ties with Washington’s key global rivals — China, Russia, Iran and Cuba — if it wants sanctions relief and a revival of its oil sector. The demand was conveyed during talks led by US Secretary of State Marco Rubio with interim Venezuelan leader Delcy Rodriguez.
According to officials, the US also wants Venezuela to work exclusively with American companies on oil production and give priority to the Trump administration and US firms in future crude oil sales. While the White House has not officially confirmed the details, it has not denied that such demands were discussed.
The move comes shortly after Venezuela’s former president Nicolás Maduro was removed from power. US officials believe Venezuela’s economy is now under extreme pressure and may only survive for a few more weeks without access to oil revenues, making oil exports a powerful bargaining tool.
The Trump administration has already reached a deal with the interim government to sell tens of millions of barrels of Venezuelan oil that has been extracted earlier. The proceeds from these sales will be controlled by the US administration. Rubio has said the funds will be used in a way that benefits the Venezuelan people rather than corruption or political elites.
Beyond oil, the US has also pressed Venezuela to commit to future free and fair elections, release political prisoners and crack down on drug gangs. However, officials say the immediate focus remains on pushing out foreign adversaries, cooperating on oil sales and strengthening counter-narcotics efforts.
If Venezuela complies, the US has signalled it may reconsider parts of its sanctions regime. Trump is also expected to meet leading US oil executives, including representatives from Chevron, Exxon Mobil and ConocoPhillips, to discuss Venezuela’s energy future.
