President Donald Trump has announced that oil obtained through a new U.S.-Venezuela agreement will be used to replenish America’s Strategic Petroleum Reserve, the emergency stockpile maintained for major energy disruptions.

Trump said the “topping out” process would begin shortly and described the Venezuelan oil as a “gift from Venezuela to the people of the United States.”

The move comes after the United States announced a major agreement giving it access to a significant portion of Venezuela’s proven oil reserves. The deal is intended to revive Venezuela’s struggling oil industry while providing the U.S. with greater access to crude.

The U.S. Strategic Petroleum Reserve currently holds roughly 290 million barrels, well below its authorized capacity of about 714 million barrels. The reserve has been drawn down substantially in recent years during periods of global energy disruption and high fuel prices.

However, analysts caution that Venezuela’s aging oil infrastructure requires substantial investment, meaning it could take considerable time before production increases enough to significantly affect U.S. energy supplies or gasoline prices.

The announcement marks a major shift in U.S.-Venezuela energy relations and could make Venezuelan crude an increasingly important part of America’s strategy to rebuild its emergency oil reserves.

⚠️ Disclaimer: Trump’s announcement concerns a planned replenishment of the U.S. Strategic Petroleum Reserve. The actual volume, delivery schedule and long-term impact of Venezuelan oil on the reserve have not yet been fully disclosed.