Captured Venezuelan leader Nicolás Maduro, 63, has been photographed smiling and flashing a peace sign in images released from the Metropolitan Detention Center in Brooklyn, dated June 25. The photos show Maduro in a gray tracksuit and white sneakers, appearing relaxed and having slimmed down since his detention. He faces U.S. charges including narco-terrorism, cocaine trafficking, and illegal weapons offenses. Both Maduro and his wife, Cilia Flores, who was detained with him, have pleaded not guilty to all charges.
Maduro and Flores were apprehended during an overnight raid by U.S. Special Forces on January 3 at their high-security compound. Maduro is scheduled to remain in federal prison ahead of his trial in June 2027, with a September 2 deadline for his legal team to file initial motions seeking dismissal of the case on immunity grounds.
These developments coincide with President Donald Trump's announcement of what he described as the "biggest oil deal in world history." The agreement, brokered with Venezuela's interim administration and involving American oil firms, reportedly secures U.S. control over more than 65 billion barrels of proven oil reserves. Trump stated the deal will significantly increase U.S. oil supply, lower gas prices for Americans, and was achieved at no cost to the taxpayer. Secretary of State Marco Rubio and Secretary of War Pete Hegseth were credited with negotiating the terms with Interim President Delcy Rodriguez.
According to a U.S. official familiar with the deal, the agreement allows the United States to partner with an unnamed private operator to form a new company that will manage the reserves. Rodríguez's government granted the company 100-year rights to develop the oil fields. The deal reportedly gives the United States a 55 percent effective output from the new private company, which would make it the second-largest corporate holder of proven reserves globally, following Saudi Aramco. Venezuela's government stated the deal involves the development of 17 fields and could attract $100 billion in investment and over $209 billion in taxes for Caracas. Rubio described the deal as a "huge win" for both American and Venezuelan people, citing expected private investment, job creation, and economic reconstruction for Venezuela.
The Trump administration has previously indicated a strategic interest in Venezuela's oil reserves, which are among the largest in the world but have been hampered by dilapidated infrastructure. The country currently produces only about one percent of the world's oil. The U.S. has been seeking to stabilize domestic energy prices, with gas prices rising significantly over the past year, amidst ongoing global conflicts impacting oil supply routes. This agreement is the second major deal between the Trump administration and the new Venezuelan government since Maduro's deposition.
