Trump team boards first u.s.-venezuela flight in 7 years to push oil deals

The Trump administration sent a delegation led by National Energy Dominance Council head Jarrod Agen on the first non-stop commercial flight in seven years between the U.S. and Venezuela, as the U.S. seeks to boost oil investment in the crisis-stricken country.

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American Airlines flight 3599 took off from Miami International Airport bound for Caracas' Simon Bolivar International Airport, carrying Agen, Venezuela's newly appointed Ambassador to the U.S. Felix Plasencia, and representatives from U.S. energy companies.

Top on the agenda: finalizing agreements between U.S. firms and Venezuela's state oil company PDVSA and other mining companies. Chevron, ExxonMobil and other American energy firms are eyeing opportunities in Venezuela, which holds the world's largest oil reserves.

Agen plans to meet with Venezuela's interim President Delcy Rodriguez to discuss the deals and potential for increased U.S. investment in Venezuela's oil sector, which has been largely shut off to American companies under sanctions imposed during the Maduro regime.

Since Maduro's ouster, the Trump administration has rolled back some sanctions to allow U.S. oil companies to spend on infrastructure and production in Venezuela. Energy Secretary Chris Wright and Interior Secretary Doug Burgum have led delegations to Caracas in recent months.