Venezuelan NGO urges clarity on US-Venezuela oil deals, citing human rights concerns

The Venezuelan NGO Provea has publicly called on Venezuela's acting president, Delcy Rodríguez, and U.S. President Donald Trump to provide transparency regarding recently announced oil agreements between the two nations. Provea, which stands for the Venezuelan Program of Education-Action in Human Rights, expressed serious concerns about the potential human rights implications of these deals.

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Provea points out that if the Trump Administration and U.S. companies decide to sign opaque and unconstitutional agreements with Venezuelan authorities, they will become co-responsible for human rights violations that occur from now on.

In a statement, Provea warned that if the Trump administration and U.S. companies proceed with "opaque and unconstitutional agreements" with Venezuelan authorities, they would share responsibility for any future human rights violations. The NGO urged foreign companies and governments to refrain from infringing on human rights and to face the negative consequences of any involvement. This stance highlights the ongoing scrutiny of international dealings with Venezuela amid its complex political and economic crisis.

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Foreign companies and governments must refrain from violating human rights and face the negative consequences in which they have any participation.

Provea specifically questions the nature of the agreement, noting that it is being conducted with the "state opacity that makes social oversight mechanisms impossible," a practice they claim has become customary. Citing Article 51 of the Venezuelan Constitution, which guarantees the right to social oversight, the organization is demanding that both administrations disclose the full scope, terms, and conditions under which the agreement was signed.

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Provea questions this agreement, because, as has unfortunately become custom, it is carried out amidst state opacity that makes social oversight mechanisms impossible.

Earlier, Delcy Rodríguez had announced a "historic agreement" with the United States, describing it as a product of strengthening bilateral relations and a facilitator for significant investment aimed at recovering Venezuela's hydrocarbon industry. She thanked President Trump and Secretary of State Marco Rubio for their willingness to develop the deal, which she stated would increase oil production through private operators and involves the development of 17 strategic fields with substantial proven reserves. The contrasting narratives underscore the deep divisions and lack of transparency surrounding Venezuela's international economic engagements.

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In this sense, and in accordance with Article 51 of the National Constitution and the principles that establish the right to Social Oversight, established in the Magna Carta itself, we demand that both administrations inform the country of the scope, terms, and conditions under which said agreement was signed.