Secretary of the Interior Doug Burgum confirmed on Sunday that the United States received a $100 million gold shipment from Venezuela.
“Well, it started on Friday. In addition to the oil and gas we signed the first licenses for critical minerals to start flowing and precious minerals,” Burgum told Fox News on The Sunday Briefing. “On Friday, there was $100 million of gold that came from Venezuela to the United States. That’s for both industrial purposes as well as other commercial uses.”
He noted that Venezuela has $500 billion in gold.
“And so when we were down there this week with both oil and gas executives from the U.S. and the top mining executives, these folks are excited about getting back to Venezuela. They were often there before in the past, they see great opportunity,” he added. “I tell you, the people of Venezuela, they are going to be putting up a statue to President Trump as a great liberator because he has opened up their economy again after more than two decades.”
Burgum reiterated that Venezuelans have great enthusiasm “for what their future can be,” noting that it is “fun to be bringing home the gold for America on Friday from Venezuela. The partnership very strong there with Delcy Rodríguez and the leadership in Venezuela.”
The gold shipment comes as the United States issued a license to Venezuela’s state-owned mining company, Minerven, authorizing gold deals.
The gold transfer marks the latest development in the U.S. and Venezuela’s restored diplomatic relationship. Last week, the countries’ “interim authorities have agreed to re-establish diplomatic and consular relations. This step will facilitate our joint efforts to promote stability, support economic recovery, and advance political reconciliation in Venezuela,” the State Department said. “Our engagement is focused on helping the Venezuelan people move forward through a phased process that creates the conditions for a peaceful transition to a democratically elected government.”
