Chris Wright, the US energy secretary, has rejected claims that the US is attempting to seize Venezuelan oil, describing the deal as a significant shift in US-Venezuela relations. He emphasized that the agreement aims to replace conflict with commerce and secure US energy dominance while excluding foreign influences from Venezuela's oilfields.
Critics, including political analysts and media outlets, have raised concerns about the nature of the deal, suggesting it resembles coercive diplomacy. They argue that the arrangement undermines the prospects for democratic governance in Venezuela, particularly given the context of the interim leadership's legitimacy.