Alejandro Betancourt went from being legally prevented from leaving the UK in May 2026 to becoming Donald Trump's business partner in a deal to revive Venezuela's oil industry. North American Blue Energy Partners (NABEP), where Betancourt is a key figure, is assuming control of over 65bn barrels of Venezuelan oil reserves under a partnership with the Trump administration. The deal represents a dramatic shift in U.S. policy toward Venezuela, now working with Vice President Delcy Rodríguez despite previously opposing former president Nicolás Maduro. Within Venezuela, Betancourt is viewed as both a competent operator and a cynical opportunist, with critics calling him a 'POS that comes along only once per generation.' His rise reflects the complex legacy of Venezuela's Bolivarian Revolution and his family's historical wealth.