The US completed its first Venezuelan oil sale after toppling the government of Nicolas Maduro in Operation Absolute Resolve, valued at about $500 million under a new energy agreement with Venezuela, officials confirmed.

A senior US official said the money earned from this first sale is being kept in bank accounts controlled by the US government, with the main account in Qatar acting as a neutral location for the funds.

More sales of Venezuelan crude are expected in the coming days and weeks, according to administration sources. This marks the start of a broader US role in selling Venezuelan oil.

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The Trump administration says this deal will benefit people in both countries and help restore Venezuela’s damaged oil infrastructure by encouraging American firms to invest.

President Trump has also discussed selling up to 30 million to 50 million barrels of Venezuelan oil to US companies, aiming for long-term cooperation in oil production and exports.

US officials say the oil revenue will be shared among the US government, US oil firms, and Venezuela, but Venezuela must use its share to buy American products.

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This oil sale comes after a recent operation that ousted Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro. The US aims to control oil sales and strengthen its influence over Venezuela’s energy sector.

Some world leaders and analysts are watching closely, as this marks a major shift in how Venezuelan oil is traded globally.