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Pentagon Office Takes 35% Stake in Betancourt Oil Deal

9/6/2026

Summary

Story summary

U.S. officials partnered with Venezuelan billionaire Alejandro Betancourt in a Pentagon-backed oil deal.
The Pentagon’s Office of Strategic Capital took a 35% stake in Betancourt’s North American Blue Energy Partners.
The State Department secured rights to buy 20% of NABEP’s oil at cost and access the remaining 80%.
U.S. investigators paused a money-laundering probe after Betancourt provided intelligence that helped enforce a Venezuelan oil tanker blockade.

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Story summary

U.S. officials partnered with Venezuelan billionaire Alejandro Betancourt in a Pentagon-backed oil deal.
The Pentagon’s Office of Strategic Capital took a 35% stake in Betancourt’s North American Blue Energy Partners.
The State Department secured rights to buy 20% of NABEP’s oil at cost and access the remaining 80%.
U.S. investigators paused a money-laundering probe after Betancourt provided intelligence that helped enforce a Venezuelan oil tanker blockade.