PDVSA confirms negotiations for the sale of oil to the United States

Petróleos de Venezuela, S.A. (PDVSA) confirmed on Wednesday that it is engaged in negotiations with the United States government for the sale of crude oil volumes, as part of what the state-owned company describes as “trade relations between both countries.”

In an official statement released from Caracas, the company assured that the process is taking place "under schemes similar to those in place with international companies, such as Chevron," and that it is a strictly commercial transaction based on criteria of legality, transparency, and mutual benefit.

PDVSA also reiterated its commitment to "building partnerships that promote national development for the benefit of the Venezuelan people and that contribute to global energy stability."

The announcement comes just hours after President Donald Trump and Secretary of State Marco Rubio revealed a joint energy control plan for Venezuela, which includes the supervised sale of between 30 and 50 million barrels of Venezuelan crude on the international market. 

Rubio explained that Washington is implementing a three-phase plan —stabilization, recovery, and transition— aimed at preventing internal collapse in Venezuela and reorganizing its oil industry under U.S. supervision.

According to the Secretary of Energy, Chris Wright, Venezuelan oil “will be sold in the market by the government of the United States,” and the proceeds will be deposited in accounts controlled by Washington to “ensure its use for the benefit of the Venezuelan people.”

The announcement from PDVSA marks Caracas's first formal recognition of energy contacts with Washington since the detention of Nicolás Maduro and his wife by U.S. forces on January 3rd, an event that transformed the regional political landscape.

Meanwhile, analysts believe that the movement could open a new chapter in the bilateral relationship, with the U.S. consolidating its influence over Venezuelan oil while PDVSA attempts to maintain its role within a power structure that is undergoing a complete redefinition.