In his annual State of the Union address on Tuesday night, President Donald Trump announced that the United States has now received more than 80 million barrels of oil from Venezuela following major shifts in the two countries’ relations.

Speaking to lawmakers and the nation, Trump described Venezuela as a “new friend and partner,” noting that the influx of Venezuelan crude comes alongside a reported rise in U.S. oil production of about 600,000 barrels per day.

The developments follow a recent U.S. military operation in early January that resulted in the capture of Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro and his wife – actions the Trump administration says were part of a broader effort to confront corruption and drug trafficking. Maduro has been brought to New York to face criminal charges.

Since that operation, Washington has eased sanctions on Venezuela’s oil sector and sought to restore production and exports, with U.S. companies and international partners returning to Venezuelan fields and facilities. The president’s remarks underscored his administration’s goal of boosting energy supplies and stabilizing the market.

Critics have raised questions about the reported volume of shipments and the legality of the U.S. approach toward Venezuela’s oil industry. But Trump used the speech to highlight lower fuel prices for American consumers and broader economic gains attributed to increased domestic and imported energy supplies.