The United States has announced its intention to maintain control over Venezuela’s oil industry for an unspecified period, with Energy Secretary Chris Wright stating that the U.S. plans to oversee the sale of Venezuelan oil production “indefinitely.” This decision came after President Donald Trump mentioned that Venezuela would transfer millions of barrels of oil to the United States soon.
In response to U.S. pressure to open up Venezuela’s struggling oil sector to American investment, the White House is set to hold a meeting with executives from major U.S. oil companies like Exxon, Chevron, and ConocoPhillips. The objective is to discuss strategies for engaging with Venezuela.
Recent events include a U.S. military operation to capture President Nicolás Maduro, resulting in the deaths of at least 24 Venezuelan security officers. Acting President Delcy Rodriguez has resisted pressure from Trump to align Venezuela’s interests with those of the U.S., including granting access to American energy firms.
Additionally, the U.S. seized a Venezuela-associated oil tanker, the Marinera, in the North Atlantic. The vessel had reportedly evaded Trump’s naval blockade of Venezuela. US officials boarded the tanker without any reported use of force, following a warrant issued by a U.S. federal court and tracking by USCGC Munro.
Pete Hegseth, the U.S. war secretary, emphasized on social media the continued enforcement of the blockade on sanctioned and illicit Venezuelan oil globally.