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Who Is Alejandro Betancourt, the Colourful Oil Baron Behind US-Venezuela Oil Deal?
Alejandro Betancourt López’s firm will manage 17 oil fields with about 65 billion barrels as U.S. officials seek more crude supply.
- Nabep, led by Venezuelan oil baron Alejandro Betancourt, will oversee the production and sale of 17 oil fields containing about 65bn barrels of crude as part of a U.S. oil abundance plan.
- Betancourt rose to prominence through Derwick Associates, which secured 12 government contracts worth $5bn without bidding; Transparency Venezuela alleged the projects were overbilled by 138%.
- Despite a 2013 lawsuit by former U.S. ambassador Otto Reich alleging bribery, Betancourt built Washington connections with Mauricio Claver-Carone, former U.S. Special Envoy for Latin America, and Rudy Giuliani, former New York City Mayor.
- Legal pressure eased in 2025 when Swiss authorities dropped extradition requests after U.S. intervention; Betancourt then facilitated communication between Vice-President Delcy Rodríguez and Rubio during the military operation against Maduro.
- Rubio defended Betancourt's selection, stating "He is an individual who strongly supported the opposition," though experts question Nabep's production capacity compared to Chevron's more than 200,000 barrels daily.
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13 Articles
13 Articles
The U.S. and Venezuela backed NABEP oil company to operate 17 sites. Learn about the details of Alejandro Betancourt’s historic agreement and profile.
US Secretary of State Marco Rubio defended the oil agreement with North American Blue Energy Partners.
·Madrid, Spain
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Rubio Defends Agreement with NABEP and States that Director "Does Not Have Investigations in the US"
Rubio defends agreement with NABEP and states that director "does not have investigations in the US"
·Buenos Aires, Argentina
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Behind the scenes of the oil deal between Washington and Caracas, his name is everywhere. Alejandro Betancourt, a controversial businessman, has become one of Donald Trump's most valuable allies. ...
·Brussels, Belgium
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Batiz raised two possible explanations about the role of Venezuelan businessman Alejandro Betancourt.
Coverage Details
Total News Sources13
Leaning Left1Leaning Right2Center4Last UpdatedBias Distribution57% Center
Bias Distribution
- 57% of the sources are Center
57% Center
14%
C 57%
R 29%
Factuality
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