Machado says Venezuela's interim government lacks authority to sign US oil deal

Venezuelan opposition leader María Corina Machado publicly questioned the legitimacy of the United States‑Venezuela oil agreement announced by President Donald Trump last Friday, describing the interim government in Caracas as lacking a democratic mandate to negotiate the country’s natural resources. Machado asserted that the nation’s oil and gas reserves do not belong to “an illegitimate regime,” and warned that any deal struck with the interim authorities could undermine Venezuela’s sovereignty.

The agreement, which Trump hailed as “the biggest oil deal in world history,” was presented as a breakthrough in U.S. policy toward the oil‑rich nation after months of diplomatic isolation. Machado’s remarks marked her first public comments since the deal’s announcement, and she emphasized the need for a government elected through free and fair elections before any resource negotiations can be considered valid. While criticizing the pact, she also sought to avoid a direct confrontation with the White House, walking a diplomatic tightrope between opposition to the deal and maintaining channels for future dialogue.

Analysts note that Machado’s statements could complicate the nascent relationship between Washington and the Venezuelan interim administration, which has been seeking international recognition while contending with internal political challenges. The opposition’s stance may pressure the United States to reassess the terms of the oil arrangement or to seek broader consensus within Venezuela before proceeding with further energy cooperation.