U.S. Sells $500M Worth of Venezuelan Oil After Maduro Capture

Is routing Venezuelan oil funds through Qatar protecting aid efforts, or creating an unaccountable slush fund?

Published 6 hours ago

U.S. Sells $500M Worth of Venezuelan Oil After Maduro Capture

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Above: The refinery El Palito in Puerto Cabello, Carabobo state, Venezuela, on Jan. 11. Image credit: Maryorin Mendez/AFP/Getty Images

The Spin

Pro-Trump narrative

Protecting Venezuelan oil revenue from creditors through executive action ensures economic stability and prevents decades of legal claims from derailing reconstruction efforts. Routing funds through Qatar shields the money from judicial seizures that would undermine critical U.S. efforts to help Venezuela recover after Maduro's removal. This framework guarantees proceeds directly benefit the Venezuelan people rather than enriching foreign creditors.

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Anti-Trump narrative

Stashing $500 million from Venezuelan oil sales in Qatar banks creates an offshore slush fund beyond congressional oversight and normal transparency requirements. This unprecedented arrangement lacks public accountability structures and anti-corruption controls that would prevent misuse of billions in proceeds. Setting up foreign accounts to control seized assets represents exactly the kind of suspicious financial maneuvering that demands scrutiny.

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