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Die Welt: US signs oil deal with Venezuela's Maduro regime, opposition slams lack of transparency
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According to a Die Welt analysis, the US government under President Donald Trump has signed a major oil agreement with Venezuela's interim government led by Delcy Rodríguez, securing a 35% stake in the country's second-largest oil company and a 100-year extraction license, along with first refusal rights to purchase 20% of the oil. The deal has drawn sharp criticism from the Venezuelan opposition, which won the 2024 presidential election with candidate Edmundo González but remains sidelined. Diosdado Cabello, the acting Interior Minister described as a 'torturer' and commander of feared militias, publicly supported the agreement. US Secretary of State Marco Rubio, previously seen as a champion of democracy movements, is now cooperating with the regime, according to the article. Opposition leader and Nobel Peace Prize laureate María Corina Machado, living in exile, called the lack of transparency 'concerning' and distanced herself from Washington for the first time. The article notes there is no concrete roadmap for democratic transition, such as election dates, and suggests the deal cements the regime's power rather than fostering democracy.
Source report
US Secretary of State Marco Rubio significantly shapes the Latin America strategy of the Trump administration. Source: AP/Mariam Zuhaib
The hope for a democratic future in Venezuela following the overthrow of Nicolás Maduro was high. However, a new oil deal between Washington and Caracas is now cementing the regime's power — and drawing sharp criticism from the opposition.
Cabello Backs the Agreement
Diosdado Cabello, Venezuela's acting Interior Minister and commander of the feared "Colectivos" and militias, has publicly endorsed the oil agreement between the US and Venezuela recently announced by President Donald Trump. Cabello's forces have been responsible for torture and extrajudicial killings of opposition figures during Maduro's tenure.
In his own television program, Cabello threatened opposition members and government-critical journalists with batons. For 25 years, he has incited against what he calls "imperialist enemies" in the US, accusing them of targeting Venezuela's oil reserves. Now, the Americans have secured access to those reserves — with the help of the very socialists who warned against them for a quarter of a century.
Key Terms of the Agreement
- The US will hold a 35 percent stake in Venezuela's second-largest oil company.
- The company has been granted a 100-year license for oil extraction by the government of Interim President Delcy Rodríguez.
- Washington receives the right of first refusal to purchase 20 percent of the oil produced.
Rodríguez has called the contract historic, claiming it will soon bring improvements for the Venezuelan people. Critics argue, however, that the deal primarily cements her power.
Opposition Left in the Cold
For the Venezuelan opposition — which won the 2024 presidential elections with candidate Edmundo González — the agreement is a severe blow. Disappointment over what is perceived as a shift in US allegiance is widespread.
The target of much of the anger is US Secretary of State Marco Rubio, who has coordinated US-Venezuela relations since Maduro's arrest in early January. Rubio was once seen as a great hope for the suppressed opposition, having consistently spoken out for democracy movements and against socialist oppressors. Now, he is cooperating with the regime in Caracas.
There is no concrete roadmap for a democratic transition, such as a date for new elections. Rubio commented at the conclusion of a Latin America trip:
"In my opinion, this should happen as quickly as possible, but in an appropriate manner. Otherwise, chaos will ensue again."
Machado Speaks Out
Opposition politician and Nobel Peace Prize laureate María Corina Machado has called the lack of transparency surrounding the oil contract "concerning" — and has distanced herself from Washington for the first time.
"The natural resources of our country do not belong to an illegitimate regime, but to the Venezuelan people."
María Corina Machado won the Nobel Peace Prize in 2025, upon nomination by Marco Rubio. Source: MARTIN BERNETTI/AFP
Machado continues to live in exile. Evidence suggests that both Caracas and Washington have so far prevented her return.
Source
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