US Begins Venezuelan Oil Sales Amid Political and Business Ties with Vitol

The US has initiated the sale of Venezuelan crude oil following the capture of Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro. The first sale was made to Vitol, whose senior trader John Addison has donated millions to political action committees supporting former President Donald Trump. Trump praised the 'great relationship' with Venezuela's interim government, agreeing to purchase 50 million barrels of oil valued at $5.2 billion. Revenue from these sales is reportedly held in US-controlled accounts, with the deal marking a key step in US involvement in Venezuela's oil sector.