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Venezuela Opposition Leader Criticizes US Oil Deal, Questions Rodriguez's Authority

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Venezuela's opposition leader Maria Corina Machado criticized a major oil agreement between the country's interim authorities and the Trump administration on Thursday.

Machado said the agreement leaves fundamental questions unanswered about its scope and participants, asking, "Who is signing? What is actually being signed?"

She also asked how Venezuelans would benefit, saying the country's resources belong to its people rather than an "illegitimate regime," and warned that the agreement has raised concerns over Venezuela's future.

Machado said oil represents only one part of Venezuela's broader reconstruction, which also requires reliable electricity, functioning ports, integrated value chains, legal certainty and personal security.

Machado stopped short of seeking cancellation of the agreement, calling the US Venezuela's natural partner and seeking a "solid, mutually beneficial partnership" for both countries.

"The United States is the main partner that Venezuela needs to fully develop its strategic value," Machado said, while calling for cooperation that benefits Venezuelans, the US, companies, investors, markets and workers.

She said Venezuela must attract sustained investment under profitable, secure and predictable conditions, with "absolute transparency, legality, and efficiency" supported by a legitimate democratic government.

Her remarks came one day after major US energy companies signed oil agreements giving the US control over about 65 billion barrels of Venezuelan crude.

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US Weighs Opening Utah's Ouray Wildlife Refuge to Oil, Gas Leasing

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Commodities

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Commodities

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