Washington has recently approved an unusual mechanism allowing Venezuelan oil sales totaling an initial $500 million — but with a twist: the money does not stay in the US and does not go directly to Caracas.

According to reports, the revenues are being held in bank accounts “under American control,” with the main account located, unsurprisingly, in Qatar.

Why does this matter? Because it is yet another sign that Qatar is no longer just a “regional player,” but a financial and diplomatic infrastructure that the Trump administration actively relies on for highly sensitive issues involving sanctions, energy, and foreign policy.