Delcy Rodríguez signed an oil agreement with the United States in early September 2026 that is intended to give the US control over about one-fifth of Venezuela's oil reserves; the deal's details have not been disclosed. ^[1] Nicolás Maduro, Venezuela's former president, was arrested during a US military operation in early January 2026 and flown to the United States; he is held in New York and faces trial on charges of 'drug terrorism'. ^[2] US President Donald Trump said on 2026-09-03 that Venezuela is not yet ready for new elections, saying the country was freed from a dictatorship and that the US gets along well with the interim government. ^[3] The Trump administration announced a major oil deal with Venezuela on Friday that purportedly gives the United States rights to 65 billion barrels of Venezuelan oil, representing 20 percent of the country's oil reserves. ^[4] Aldo Civico argues that US opposition leader María Corina Machado should demonstrate independence from Washington and recover her political autonomy. ^[5] Venezuela holds the world's largest known oil reserves, more than 303 billion barrels; the US eased sanctions on Venezuela's oil sector after Maduro's arrest and pressured the interim government for access to the oil. ^[6] De la Torre confirmed she is back in Bogotá and ready to return to television with a new offer. ^[7] The journalist received an unexpected phone call offering a new professional challenge which she accepted. ^[8] Vanessa de la Torre announced her departure from Caracol Radio in early August via an Instagram video, expressing gratitude for her time there. ^[9] The business partner selected for the joint oil venture is a company headed by Alejandro Betancourt, who is under investigation for money laundering in Switzerland and was found by Transparencia Venezuela in 2018 to have overbilled the Venezuelan government by $2.9 billion. ^[10] A recent agreement announced by the United States grants private companies majority control and operation of 17 strategic oil fields in Venezuela. ^[11] President Trump revealed the US intentions to secure oil resources and praised Delcy Rodríguez while dismissing María Corina Machado. ^[12]