US Energy Secretary Defends Venezuela Oil Deal, Denies Attempt to Seize Oil

U.S. Energy Secretary Chris Wright has denied that Washington is seeking to seize Venezuelan oil, a claim that has intensified scrutiny of President Donald Trump’s energy agreement with the country’s interim leadership. In a CNBC interview, Wright emphatically responded, “Absolutely not,” when asked whether the United States was pursuing a “heavy‑handed” strategy to acquire Venezuelan oil in contravention of the nation’s constitution. The statement comes amid mounting criticism from Venezuelan officials and international observers who argue that the deal could undermine the country’s sovereign rights and destabilize its political landscape.

The agreement, signed in February, is framed by the U.S. administration as a “transformation” of bilateral relations, aimed at fostering economic cooperation and energy trade. Critics, however, contend that the terms grant the United States preferential access to Venezuelan petroleum resources, potentially compromising the country’s constitutional provisions on resource ownership. Wright’s remarks seek to reassure both domestic and international audiences that the U.S. approach remains compliant with legal frameworks and respects Venezuela’s sovereignty, while the broader debate over the deal’s implications continues to unfold.