Caracas and Washington have reached a deal to export up to $2 billion worth of Venezuelan crude to the United States, U.S. President Donald Trump said on Tuesday, a flagship negotiation that would divert supplies from China while helping Venezuela avoid deeper oil production cuts.

The agreement is a strong sign that the Venezuelan government is responding to Trump's demand that they open up to U.S. oil companies or risk more military intervention. Trump has said he wants interim President Delcy Rodriguez to give the U.S. and private companies "total access" to Venezuela's oil industry.

Venezuela has millions of barrels of oil loaded on tankers and in storage tanks that it has been unable to ship due to a blockade on exports imposed by Trump since mid-December.

The blockade was part of rising U.S. pressure on the government of Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro that culminated in U.S. forces capturing him this weekend. Top Venezuelan officials have called Maduro's capture a kidnapping and accused the U.S. of trying to steal the country's vast oil reserves.

DESCRIPCIÓN DE IMÁGENES

1. VARIOUS OF REFINERY

2. REFINERY SEEN FROM MOVING VEHICLE

PARAGUANA, VENEZUELA (FILE - 2016) (REUTERS - ACCESS ALL)

3. VARIOUS OF AMUAY OIL REFINERY

CARACAS, VENEZUELA (FILE - JUNE 14, 2024) (REUTERS - ACCESS ALL)

4. VARIOUS OF PDVSA GASOLINE SERVICE STATION

PARAGUANA, VENEZUELA (FILE - 2016) (REUTERS - ACCESS ALL) (EVENING SHOTS)

5. VARIOUS OF AMUAY REFINERY

ORINOCO BELT, NEAR MORICHAL AT THE STATE OF MONAGAS, VENEZUELA (FILE -

APRIL 16, 2015) (REUTERS - ACCESS ALL) (MUTE)

6. STILL IMAGE OF AN OILFIELD WORKER WALKING NEXT TO DRILLING RIGS AT AN OIL WELL OPERATED BY VENEZUELA'S STATE OIL COMPANY PDVSA

MORICHAL, VENEZUELA (FILE - JULY 28, 2011) (REUTERS - ACCESS ALL)

7. STILL IMAGE OF CRUDE OIL DRIPPING FROM A VALVE AT AN OIL WELL OPERATED BY VENEZUELA'S STATE OIL COMPANY PDVSA

MARACAIBO, VENEZUELA (FILE) (ORIGINALLY 4:3) (REUTERS - access all)

8. VARIOUS OF OIL REFINERY

9. WORKER AT REFINERY

10. VARIOUS OF PUMPS EXTRACTING OIL

11. VARIOUS OF WORKERS AT OIL FIELD

12. VARIOUS OF PUMPS AT OIL WELLS

ANZOATEGUI STATE, VENEZUELA (FILE - NOVEMBER 15, 1976) (REUTERS - ACCESS ALL)

13. DONKEY PUMP WORKING IN ORINOCO OILFIELD, VENEZUELA

14. VARIOUS OF MECHANICS WORKING ON PUMP AND PUMP OPERATING

15. PEOPLE INSPECTING OIL FLOODING INTO DITCH

16. VARIOUS OF OIL PIPELINE

17. VARIOUS OF AERIAL OF OILFIELD

18. WASTE GAS BURNING/ OILFIELD

19. VARIOUS OF REFINERY

VIENNA, AUSTRIA (FILE - MAY 28, 2024) (REUTERS - ACCESS ALL) (MUTE)

20. VARIOUS STILL IMAGES OF THE LOGO OF THE ORGANIZATION OF THE PETROLEUM EXPORTING COUNTRIES (OPEC) OUTSIDE ITS HEADQUARTERS