US-Venezuela oil deal faces legal and logistical scrutiny

Following the seizure of Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro by US forces in January, Donald Trump announced an agreement involving the Office of Strategic Capital (OSC) at the Pentagon. The deal aims to grant the OSC a one-third ownership stake in North American Blue Energy Partners (Nabep), Venezuela’s second-largest private oil firm, to refill the US Strategic Petroleum Reserve.

However, investigations suggest the deal faces significant legal and logistical hurdles. Experts note that Venezuelan law prohibits oil development agreements exceeding 25 years, contradicting reports of 100-year terms. Additionally, critics argue that US law does not authorize the OSC to hold shares in private companies. The deal follows a pattern of Trump expressing interest in seizing foreign oil resources during military conflicts.