US Signs Oil Deal With Venezuela's Unelected Leader, No Vote Date Set

Trump signed an oil deal with Venezuela's interim president Delcy Rodríguez, who took power without a vote after US forces seized Maduro in January 2026. The deal covers part of Venezuela's vast oil reserves — 65 billion of 303 billion barrels. Neither leader set an election date. Rodríguez said only: "There will be an electoral process, but when Venezuela is ready."