President Donald Trump and Secretary of State Marco Rubio plan to visit a tanker carrying Venezuelan crude oil in Port Arthur, Texas, on Tuesday, as the administration promotes its energy agreements with Caracas during a trip that also includes campaign events ahead of the midterm elections.
The visit was disclosed by a congressional aide and two U.S. officials who spoke anonymously about Rubio's plans, according to an Associated Press report published by ABC News. The shipment is intended for processing at Texas refineries.
Trump subsequently confirmed the visit to reporters and said the tanker was carrying 1 million barrels of Venezuelan oil, according to The Washington Examiner. The administration is presenting the shipment as part of its efforts to expand Venezuelan oil production, increase U.S. supply and reduce energy prices.
The Port Arthur appearance coincides with Trump's scheduled campaign rallies in Corpus Christi and Lubbock. He is supporting Republican Senate candidate Ken Paxton, who faces Democrat James Talarico in November.
Rubio, who also serves as Trump's national security adviser, is not confirmed to participate in the campaign events. The AP noted that it is unusual for a secretary of state to accompany a president on a trip combining official business with election campaigning.
The oil shipment comes as Washington continues working with Venezuela's interim government following the U.S. capture of former President Nicolás Maduro in January.
In a Reuters interview published on Monday, Rubio said Venezuela's electoral institutions must be replaced before credible elections can take place, but declined to specify when a vote might occur.
The United States supports negotiations between interim President Delcy Rodríguez's government and opposition representatives over changes to the judiciary and electoral council. Those talks have excluded the political movement of opposition leader María Corina Machado.
Machado has criticized Trump's oil agreement with Venezuela's interim authorities. Rubio defended the arrangement as beneficial to both countries while acknowledging her right to oppose it.
The planned tanker visit therefore comes amid expanding U.S.–Venezuela energy cooperation and unresolved negotiations over the country's political transition.
© {{Year}} Latin Times. All rights reserved. Do not reproduce without permission.