US President Donald Trump signed an executive order aimed at blocking courts or creditors from impounding revenue tied to the sale of Venezuelan oil held in US Treasury accounts, the White House said on Saturday.
The emergency order said the revenue, held in foreign government deposit funds, should be used in Venezuela to help create peace, prosperity and stability. The order was signed on Friday, less than a week after US forces captured Venezuelan leader Nicolas Maduro in Caracas.
Several companies have longstanding claims against the country. Exxon Mobil XOM.N and ConocoPhillips COP.N, for example, left Venezuela nearly 20 years ago after their assets were nationalised. Both are still owed billions of dollars.
