Trump announced an oil deal with Venezuela covering 17 fields with 65 billion barrels of proven reserves, previously held by Russian or Chinese firms. NABEP, owned by Alejandro Betancourt, is the reported partner, with the Pentagon described as holding a stake in roughly one-fifth of Venezuela's reserves. Multiple claims about a January 3 U.S. military seizure of Maduro and subsequent regime transition rest on lower-quality sourcing.