Critics of the US-Venezuela oil deal say it’s neo-colonialism

Juan Sebastian Gonzalez, Former NSC Senior Director for the Western Hemisphere says an economically and politically stable Venezuela is important to U.S. national security interests. He adds that more transparency is needed on the benefactors of the U.

U.S. oil company North American Blue Energy ⁠Partners ⁠will take over some oilfields previously controlled by several ⁠Chinese companies and a Russian firm, two U.S. officials told Reuters on Monday.

The 46-year-old figure of international intrigue has an apparent knack for being in the right place at the right time.

President Donald Trump and acting President Delcy Rodríguez's oil agreement prompted an unusual consensus of opposition from both ends of the political spectrum.

The principle that sitting heads of state are immune from prosecution abroad is a longstanding tenet of international law seen as fundamental to diplomacy. Maduro's push to ​persuade Manhattan-based U.S. District Judge Alvin Hellerstein to dismiss the case will test U.S. courts' ⁠general ⁠reluctance to apply international law ⁠in criminal ​cases.

The United States and Venezuela have welcomed a big energy deal which they've formally signed in Caracas, along with a series of agreements involving international oil firms. Critics say the deal hands Washington control of a fifth of Venezuela’s oil reserves,

Venezuela's acting President Delcy Rodríguez signed an agreement granting U.S. companies majority control over 65 billion barrels of crude oil.