In early January 2026, President Donald Trump announced a new arrangement involving Venezuelan oil and U.S. economic policy, saying that Venezuela will use the money it earns from selling oil under a recent U.S.‑backed deal to purchase products made in the United States. Trump made the claim in a post on his Truth Social platform, stating that Venezuela “is going to be purchasing ONLY American Made Products” with the funds from the oil deal and describing it as a “wise choice” that benefits both countries. Trump specified that purchases would include a range of U.S. goods such as agricultural products, medicines, medical devices, and equipment needed to improve Venezuela’s electric grid and other infrastructure, positioning the U.S. as Venezuela’s principal trading partner.
The announcement follows a broader U.S. effort to assert influence over Venezuelan oil resources after U.S. forces captured Nicolás Maduro. Under the new arrangement, interim Venezuelan authorities have agreed to turn over tens of millions of barrels of sanctioned oil to the United States, which will be sold at market prices. The revenue from those sales would then be managed under U.S. oversight, with Trump saying it would be used in part to buy American‑made products for Venezuela.
The plan reflects a significant shift in U.S.–Venezuela economic relations, with Trump framing the requirement as a strategic realignment that shifts Venezuela’s trade away from nations like China, Russia, or Iran and towards the United States. Trump and other U.S. officials argue that directing Venezuela’s oil money into American goods supports Venezuelan reconstruction needs while boosting U.S. industries. Critics, however, see the policy as coercive and reflective of U.S. control over Venezuela’s resources and economic decisions.
This development comes amid broader U.S. actions involving Venezuelan oil, including naval blockades and tanker seizures meant to enforce the embargo and ensure compliance with the oil‑for‑goods arrangement.
