Donald Trump claims control over Venezuelan oil reserves

During a campaign rally in Syracuse, New York, U.S. President Donald Trump asserted American control over Venezuelan oil resources, stating that ‘the winner gets the spoils.’ He claimed the United States is acquiring billions of dollars daily from these reserves.

This follows an August 2026 oil agreement intended to grant Washington majority control over more than 65 billion barrels of proven Venezuelan oil reserves. The agreement involves partnerships with the private sector and coordination with interim President Delcy Rodríguez. Rodríguez assumed power following a U.S. military invasion on January 3, 2026, which resulted in the seizure of President Nicolás Maduro and his wife, Cilia Flores.

In the same speech, Trump criticized the decision to award the Nobel Peace Prize to South African jurist and former UN High Commissioner for Human Rights Navi Pillay, suggesting the choice was a ‘permanent stain on Norway.’