United States uses Venezuelan oil revenues to fund invasion costs

Following the military invasion of Caracas on January 3, 2026, the United States has begun utilizing Venezuelan oil export revenues to offset the costs of the operation. According to economist Francisco Rodríguez of the Center for Economic and Policy Research (CEPR), the Trump administration has billed Venezuela $4.7 billion—representing approximately 32 percent of the country's oil exports this year—to cover invasion expenses.

Revenue from Venezuelan oil exports is currently routed through accounts managed by the US Department of the Treasury. Washington reviews budget requests from Caracas and controls access to these funds. Luigi Pisella of the Venezuelan Commission for Public Assets reported that while the country generated approximately $14.7 billion in gross oil revenue during the first half of 2026, only about $7 billion remained with the Venezuelan state. The remainder was consumed by Chevron debt repayments, production costs, and a $4.7 billion deduction imposed by the US to cover costs related to the 2025 naval blockade and the subsequent military operation.