The Trump administration has completed its first Venezuelan oil sale, valued at $500 million, an administration official confirmed to The Hill on Wednesday.
The official also said additional sales are expected in the coming days and weeks.
Semafor first reported the deal, including that revenue from it is being held in bank accounts, including one in Qatar, that are controlled by the U.S. government.
“President Trump brokered a historic energy deal with Venezuela, immediately following the arrest of narco terrorist Nicolás Maduro, that will benefit the American and Venezuelan people,” White House spokesperson Taylor Rogers said.
“President Trump’s team is facilitating positive, ongoing discussions with oil companies that are ready and willing to make unprecedented investments to restore Venezuela’s oil infrastructure. President Trump is protecting our Western Hemisphere from being taken advantage of by narcoterrorists, drug traffickers, and foreign adversaries,” she continued.
The oil deal is the first since the U.S. ousted Maduro, Venezuela’s former president, earlier this month.
Trump quickly indicated U.S. oil firms would be involved in pumping Venezuela’s rich oil reserves following Maduro’s capture. Trump hosted the heads of numerous U.S. oil firms last week at the White House