Venezuela's interim leader Delcy Rodriguez sought to reassure the public on Saturday that Caracas would control its oil under a new agreement that allows the U.S. significant access to it.
The U.S. will have majority control of 65 billion barrels of Venezuela's proven reserves in what President Donald Trump described Friday as "the biggest oil deal in world history."
"One thing must be absolutely clear: Venezuela retains ownership and sovereignty over its resources," Rodriguez said in a speech on state television.
The agreement with the U.S. aims to turn "cold, inert" resources underground to "a source of social and economic well-being for the people of Venezuela," she said.
In a late night address, she hailed the accord as a "historic" deal that would help revive the economy and boost government revenue, saying it would help shape the country's future.
