# US-mediated Venezuela transition and resource control > Live situation record from CLSTR: https://clstr.news/situations/us-soldiers-tied-to-maduro-raid-face-gambling-and-intel-use-charges-as-maduro-is-captured > Updated: 2026-09-05T16:47:20.000Z. Sources: 211. Developments: 39. Eight months after the capture of Nicolás Maduro by United States forces on January 3, 2026, the Venezuelan transition under acting president Delcy Rodríguez continues through a three-phase stabilization process. This transition is characterized by heavy Washington oversight, viewed as a strategic geopolitical move to secure global oil reserves. The military intervention, which included bombing targets and storming Caracas, followed a 2025 National Security Strategy aimed at restoring American preeminence in the Western Hemisphere. Following the incursion, Donald Trump stated that the United States would ‘run’ Venezuela and claimed the nation had secured the largest oil deal in history. Recent developments have intensified debates over governance and sovereignty. While Secretary of State Marco Rubio has emphasized the need for a legitimate government that complies with international norms, retired General Mike Flynn has criticized potential backroom deals between energy corporations and lobbyists, calling for engagement with opposition leader María Corina Machado. Conversely, a leaked U.S. Department of State document suggests a pragmatic approach prioritizing energy stability, proposing that presidential elections could be postponed until 2031 and positioning Rodríguez as a figure for ‘institutional containment’. Resource control remains a central pillar of the transition. A significant oil agreement announced in late August reportedly involves 17 oil fields containing approximately 65 billion barrels—nearly one-fifth of Venezuela’s reserves—for up to a century. Under this deal, the U.S. government would gain direct entry into the corporate structure and privileged access to crude at cost. Critics have labeled the arrangement ‘opaque and colonial,’ noting that negotiations are occurring with an administration lacking a democratic mandate while Maduro remains in U.S. federal custody. ## Claims - The Venezuelan government and opposition reached agreements to recover gold reserves held in England. (corroborated by 10 sources) - The gold reserves will be used for reconstruction efforts following the double earthquake on June 24. (corroborated by 8 sources) - Approximately 31 tons of Venezuelan gold, valued at roughly US$ 4 billion, are held in the Bank of England. (corroborated by 6 sources) - The release of gold assets is conditioned on specific planning, control mechanisms, and international audits. (corroborated by 5 sources) - The funds will be deposited in accounts of the U.S. Department of the Treasury. (corroborated by 4 sources) - The government aims to restructure the judicial system to ensure transparency and reduce corruption. (corroborated by 3 sources) - The use of the gold reserves will be subject to permanent auditing by international companies. (corroborated by 2 sources) - The 1999 Constitution prohibited public funding for political parties. (corroborated by 2 sources) - The prohibition of state funding created financial inequality between the opposition and the ruling party. (corroborated by 2 sources) ## Timeline ### 2026-09-05: Nicolás Maduro remains in U.S. custody amid Venezuelan oil deal Nicolás Maduro remains in U.S. custody amid controversy over AI-generated images, while a major oil deal grants the U.S. privileged access to Venezuelan reserves for up to a century. 2 sources. https://clstr.news/cluster/nicols-maduro-remains-in-us-custody-amid-venezuelan-oil-deal ### 2026-09-04: Venezuela faces election uncertainty and new U.S. oil deal Venezuela faces political uncertainty over election timing and a major new U.S.-backed oil deal involving NABEP to exploit crude reserves, amid ongoing calls for democratic transition. 11 sources. https://clstr.news/cluster/venezuela-interim-government-delays-presidential-election-timeline ### 2026-09-01: Venezuela faces political uncertainty amid transition debates Venezuela faces deep political uncertainty as analysts debate the legitimacy of its transition, the impact of US-Venezuela relations, and a growing sense of institutional orphanhood among the citizenry. 2 sources. https://clstr.news/cluster/venezuela-faces-political-uncertainty-amid-transition-debates ### 2026-08-31: United States invades Venezuela and kidnaps President Maduro US forces invaded Venezuela on January 3, 2026, storming Caracas and kidnapping President Nicolás Maduro and Cilia Flores as part of a broader strategy to assert dominance in the Western Hemisphere. 3 sources. https://clstr.news/cluster/united-states-invades-venezuela-and-kidnaps-president-maduro ### 2026-08-26: Venezuela faces political uncertainty and resource control following U.S. intervention Seven months after the capture of Nicolás Maduro, Venezuela faces political uncertainty and international tutelage, with U.S. control over Venezuelan oil and mining resources becoming a central focus. 6 sources. https://clstr.news/cluster/venezuela-faces-political-uncertainty-and-resource-control-following-us-intervention ### 2026-08-23: Venezuela faces political shifts amid financing debates and Maduro's absence Venezuela faces institutional debates over political party financing and a shifting political landscape following the capture of Nicolás Maduro by US forces. 4 sources. https://clstr.news/cluster/venezuela-undergoes-political-and-institutional-shifts ### 2026-08-20: Venezuela political negotiations exclude Nicolás Maduro Recent political negotiations in Venezuela between the interim government and the opposition have reportedly excluded the legal status of detained former president Nicolás Maduro and Cilia Flores. 7 sources. https://clstr.news/cluster/venezuela-political-negotiations-exclude-nicols-maduro ### 2026-08-17: International developments in Mexico and Venezuela Experts analyze the strategic visa revocation of Andrés Manuel López Beltrán in Mexico, while a U.S. Congressional report outlines a three-phase transition plan for Venezuela following Nicolás Maduro's capture. 2 sources. https://clstr.news/cluster/international-developments-in-mexico-and-venezuela ### 2026-08-16: Venezuelan gold reserves in UK to fund earthquake relief Venezuelan gold held in the UK may be unblocked via US Treasury accounts to fund earthquake recovery, subject to international auditing to ensure transparency and reconstruction of infrastructure. 8 sources. https://clstr.news/cluster/venezuelan-gold-reserves-in-uk-to-fund-earthquake-relief ### 2026-08-14: Venezuela faces political upheaval and potential transition Venezuela faces political upheaval and new forms of social mobilization following the kidnapping of President Maduro, as the nation explores potential paths toward a democratic transition. 3 sources. https://clstr.news/cluster/venezuela-faces-political-upheaval-and-potential-transition ### 2026-08-14: Venezuela reaches agreement to recover gold reserves from England Venezuela's government and opposition have agreed to jointly recover $4 billion in gold reserves from the Bank of England to fund earthquake reconstruction, subject to international audits and U.S. Treasury's