Renowned Venezuelan journalist Boris Muñoz recently penned an in-depth analysis for El País, scrutinizing the oil agreement between the Trump administration and the Venezuelan government led by Delcy Rodríguez. In his article, Muñoz directly appeals to opposition leader María Corina Machado, urging her to confront both the "Rodrigato" and the forces that uphold it.
Muñoz describes the so-called "greatest oil deal of the century" as a "Faustian pact," encapsulating his critique with the phrase, "They've sold Venezuela with the Venezuelans inside." He argues that the agreement—negotiated by the controversial businessman Alejandro Betancourt—is "fraudulent from start to finish," citing its lack of transparency, democratic legitimacy, and the surrender of national sovereignty.
Details of the agreement disclosed so far reveal that the United States will obtain a 35% stake in the parent company of North American Blue Energy Partners (NABEP), while the State Department will secure the right to purchase 20% of the oil production at cost price from fields operated by the company.
Significant Oil Concessions to NABEP
The deal grants NABEP rights to 17 Venezuelan oil fields, boasting approximately 65 billion barrels of reserves. According to Washington, these concessions will last 100 years, whereas Caracas has suggested a 25-year binational project. The agreement is expected to mobilize around $100 billion in investments, sparking criticism from both opposition leaders and dissenting Chavismo figures—an unusual alignment in over two decades.
Understanding the Term "Rodrigato"
Muñoz coins the term "Rodrigato" to describe Delcy Rodríguez's government, which includes her brother Jorge Rodríguez leading the National Assembly. He succinctly explains the logic behind the agreement: "The Rodrigato trades the country for power." The ruling Chavismo ensures its political survival, while Washington gains privileged access to one of the world's largest oil reserves.
Secretary of State Marco Rubio emphasized that the U.S. must oversee Venezuelan oil revenues to prevent rulers and elites from "embezzling the income again." However, Muñoz ironically notes that these rulers and elites have been in power for nearly three decades.
A Call to Action for María Corina Machado
Muñoz identifies Betancourt as a pivotal figure in this complex arrangement. According to an Axios investigation by Marc Caputo, Betancourt connected Rodríguez with Rubio on January 3, 2026, as U.S. troops stormed Fuerte Tiuna to capture Nicolás Maduro. The Financial Times further revealed that the agreement opens doors for oil, financial, and communication companies linked to Trump, including Sable and Primavera, as cited by the analyst.
The most critical section of Muñoz's analysis focuses on Machado's stance. After days of silence, the opposition leader broke her silence with a video expressing "sadness and anger," questioning the regime's legitimacy to pledge the nation's assets: "The wealth of our land does not belong to an illegitimate regime; it belongs to the Venezuelan people." However, she refrained from holding the Trump administration co-responsible for the pact.
Strategic Mistakes and Future Directions
Muñoz considers Machado's caution a strategic blunder, warning that condemning only one party is tantamount to endorsing the other. He cautions her against becoming ensnared in the "Faustian pact" logic, recalling that diplomacy through deference has failed before: Machado presented Trump with her Nobel Peace Prize diploma after January 3, "when the MAGA leader humiliated her by calling her weak and lacking respect."
Trump, on the other hand, dismissed immediate elections, asserting that Venezuela is "not ready," a stance Muñoz notes is no accident, as elections would introduce uncertainty that the new power architecture aims to avoid.
In this predicament, the columnist suggests a third path: Machado should "assert herself," much like Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney did by responding with reciprocal tariffs to Trump, despite the economic cost to Canada. Muñoz argues that Machado doesn't need to match Trump's power but should leverage the unique asset she possesses: the overwhelming support of the Venezuelan people, who elected her as the opposition leader by a landslide.
The journalist's roadmap is clear: defy Trump, return to Venezuela immediately, reunite a fragmented opposition, and mobilize the populace to demand the renewal of the National Electoral Council and free presidential elections. Muñoz concludes his analysis with a warning that underscores the moment's gravity: "Only by doing so will Venezuela keep alive the hope of reclaiming its freedom and renegotiating the oil deal of the century, without being remembered as a de facto colony that never even became the 51st state of the Union."
Key Insights on the Venezuela Oil Deal
What is the "Rodrigato"?
The "Rodrigato" refers to the government of Delcy Rodríguez, which is characterized by the involvement of her brother Jorge Rodríguez, head of the National Assembly. The term is used to describe their administration and its agreement with the United States.
What are the main criticisms of the oil agreement?
Critics argue that the agreement lacks transparency, democratic legitimacy, and involves a significant surrender of Venezuelan sovereignty. It has been described as a "Faustian pact" that trades national assets for political power.
How does Muñoz view María Corina Machado's response to the agreement?
Muñoz criticizes Machado's cautious approach as a strategic error, suggesting that her failure to condemn both parties involved in the agreement may compromise her position and align her with the pact's logic.