Venezuela signs oil deal with the US under duress: patience urged for now

The oil agreement with the United States is being signed under coercion, with unfavorable terms for Venezuela, but it is seen as a temporary and necessary measure given the country's overwhelming military and economic disadvantage.

## A deal signed at gunpoint

Venezuela's energy landscape has reached a critical point, marked by a recent agreement with **the United States** that, according to analysis, was forged under considerable pressure. The agreed conditions, especially regarding the price of oil, appear far from what would be an equitable deal. While crude trades at around **$100** a barrel on international markets, the agreement sets a price of just **$19**. This disparity suggests a negotiation in which one party started from a clear position of weakness. History recalls similar episodes, such as the accusation of sellout leveled at **Pérez Jiménez** over an agreement that, at the time, was considered unfavorable for failing to deliver an even 50-50 split. The absence of a public bidding process and the concession to a single country for a minimum of **25 years** add layers of complexity to this scenario, pointing to a behind-closed-doors operation with long-term implications.

The comparison with the Treaty of Versailles, a historic agreement that imposed severe conditions on Germany after the First World War, highlights the perception that the current terms could be even more damaging. It is argued that, in effect, an "aggressor state" is being compensated even though **Venezuela** has caused no harm whatsoever to **the United States**. The metaphor of signing an agreement "with a gun to your head" illustrates the sense of having no options and of extreme conditions being imposed, much like a business yielding to a incivil's threats. Yet the harsh economic reality and the lack of viable alternatives appear to have driven the signing of this pact, in recognition of the country's difficult current situation.

## Economic and military strangulation

**Venezuela's** situation has been shaped by a series of measures that have restricted its ability to export oil, forcing the country into practices some have described as "piracy," in an ironic echo of earlier criticisms. The actions of the **Trumpstein** administration have not been limited to the energy sector; they have spread to other areas of the economy, even affecting fishing, with reports of serious consequences for fishermen, though official information has been limited to avoid causing alarm.

On the military front, the disparity of forces is abysmal. **Venezuela** lacks the means to stand up to the **United States** Navy, which drastically limits its options for direct confrontation. The civil air blockade imposed by **Trumpstein** is another example of the restrictive measures that have suffocated the country's economy and mobility. Unable to achieve its objectives by other means, more drastic actions have been taken, including the possible murder and kidnapping of citizens within Venezuelan territory. These actions, far from being the product of "internal betrayals," are interpreted as a demonstration of American superiority, which has "crushed" **Venezuela** in surgical fashion.

Initially, a firm stance was maintained in an attempt to negotiate better terms and deter physical confrontation. However, the operational reality on the ground has been overwhelming. There is even speculation, though unconfirmed, that natural events such as earthquakes may have been artificially triggered by **the United States** to keep **Venezuela** in a state of maximum precariousness. Continuing a conflict in terms of "total war" would make no sense, as it would lead to the destruction of the national infrastructure, including the oil industry, one of the most important in the world.

## Propaganda and global pressure

The propaganda war has been a fundamental weapon used by the "enemy," **the United States**, resorting to disinformation and dehumanization tactics against Venezuelan citizens. Hoaxes have been spread, such as the one linking **CECOT** with **Tren de Aragua**, managing to get a segment of the population to support the American narrative, which presents its actions as acts of salvation. The political opposition, rather than acting as a counterweight, has come to collaborate with the "enemy." Sectors of the press and public figures, both liberal and pseudo-right-wing, have actively promoted American military intervention in **Venezuela** before **January 3, 2026**.

The lack of direct military support from countries such as **China** or **Russia**, which have been reluctant to intervene militarily, leaves **Venezuela** in a vulnerable position. The global situation, though complex, presents some nuances. **Russia's** Western refineries are incapacitated, and attacks have been carried out on Saudi refineries from **Yemen**. **The United States** has become bogged down in **Iran**, a scenario different from **Venezuela**, where **Iran** is seeking a long-term negotiation rather than an immediate military resolution. The hope is that the wars in **Russia** and **Iran** will not end until early **2029**, coinciding with a more serious American administration.

This global context fits into a longer-term agreement that could include the territorial dispute over the **Essequibo**, a territory whose evidence of possession by **Spain** is considered proven. Current decisions are being made with the aim of guaranteeing the lives of citizens, order, security, stability and the country's territorial integrity, regardless of the intentions of the **Trumpstein** administration. Calm and patience are being called for in the face of the hysteria generated by some sectors, since it is considered that "nothing has been lost yet."

## Exceptional circumstances and a forward-looking view

Within the framework of these temporary and exceptional circumstances, it is considered prudent to accept the signing of this "Agreement." The need to regain international legitimacy is pressing, as **1,200** sanctions and blockades have reduced **Venezuela** to an international status comparable to that of organizations such as **ISIS**. The goal is to buy time, betting on the political, economic, diplomatic and military exhaustion of the **Trumpstein** administration, which is described as a "gang of incivil."

While the agreement is considered terribly bad, it is argued that the country is in "exceptional circumstances of an undeclared war" that has escalated into a negotiating stage. The terms imply that **the United States**, through its companies, will have to assume the technical and extraction costs, as well as investment in infrastructure. Most of the oil fields are in a non-productive state, described as "goat pastures." It is important to clarify that nothing is being "given away"; the nation reserves the right to revoke or expropriate foreign assets on its territory.

There is public evidence that any agreement made under threat or coercion is invalid. Interviews are cited in which **Trump** threatened **Rodríguez** with a very high price if he did not cooperate. In the medium term, it is expected that this agreement can be reviewed and modified under better terms. The global situation, despite the difficulties, offers some breathing room, and current decisions are being made to safeguard the survival and future of **Venezuela**.