US signs 25-year energy pact granting operational control over Venezuelan crude
What happened
US Energy Secretary Chris Wright met Venezuelan Interim President Delcy Rodriguez in Caracas to sign a 25-year energy agreement. The deal gives Washington operational and marketing control over Venezuela's crude reserves to help stabilize global energy markets.
Why it matters
Direct control over Venezuelan production and distribution gives Washington immediate leverage over international trade flows, creating a long-term mechanism intended to manage oil price volatility.
Bigger picture
Ceding operational control of national reserves to a foreign state marks a major shift in energy governance, demonstrating how bilateral pacts can reorder global crude distribution and state production.
Watch next
Implementation frameworks and joint guidelines from Washington and Caracas detailing how operational terms and crude marketing will be executed.