Trump, Oil and Economic Leverage: The Real Story Behind America’s Venezuela Strategy
In early January 2026, the U.S.–Venezuela confrontation took a dramatic turn that has reshaped geopolitics, energy markets, and Latin America’s perception of American foreign policy. What began as an escalation over narcotics and alleged organized crime rapidly morphed into a bold, overt exertion of power — with control over Venezuela’s vast oil resources and economic assets as its center of gravity.
A Military Strike That Shook the Hemisphere
On January 3, 2026, U.S. forces carried out coordinated strikes inside Venezuela, including near Caracas. These operations resulted in the capture and removal of President Nicolás Maduro — an unprecedented move against a sitting Latin American head of state. The U.S. portrays this as part of a law-enforcement and national-security maneuver against narco-terrorism and weapon smuggling. Others see it as a stark act of intervention that crosses long-established norms of sovereignty and international law.
Following the assault, Maduro and his wife were taken to New York to face charges related to drug trafficking and organized crime — a development that instantly shifted the narrative from diplomacy to legal prosecution.
Oil: The Strategic and Economic Prize
Venezuela is not just another nation in crisis. With the largest proven oil reserves on the planet — roughly 300 billion barrels, equating to about 17 % of global supply — it sits atop a resource many global powers covet.
Within days of Maduro’s removal, U.S. President Donald Trump declared that Venezuela would hand over between 30 and 50 million barrels of oil to the United States. This crude, still in storage or blockaded by U.S. naval forces, would be sold at market prices, according to the Trump administration, and Trump personally stated he would control the proceeds to ensure they benefit both Venezuelans and Americans.
Marco Rubio, U.S. Secretary of State, elaborated that this oil transfer is the first phase of a broader economic strategy: the U.S. would sell the Venezuelan oil on the open market and control how the revenue is disbursed, thereby shaping Venezuela’s post-Maduro future.
Not Just Oil — Money and Economic Influence
The title of the Firstpost article you referenced — that Trump “doesn’t just want Venezuela’s oil, but Venezuelans’ money too” — captures a growing Western and Latin American criticism: this isn’t merely about petroleum, but about economic subjugation. The U.S. intention to manage how Venezuela earns and spends its oil revenue — including conditions that a portion be used to buy only American-made goods — signals a sweeping economic agenda.
Such an approach transforms what might have been conventional foreign investment into direct financial oversight of a sovereign nation’s income — a form of economic influence critics label neo-imperialism. Latin American protests have already erupted in Colombia and beyond, with demonstrators denouncing U.S. actions as modern “imperial adventure” and a brazen seizure of resources.
Furthermore, Trump and allied U.S. officials have suggested reimbursing American oil companies for rebuilding Venezuela’s dilapidated energy infrastructure — effectively underwriting future extraction activity with U.S. financing tied to foreign profit.
Venezuela’s Interim Government and Resistance
In Venezuela, Vice President Delcy Rodríguez assumed presidential powers after Maduro’s capture. According to reports, she has been in contact with U.S. officials and promised to cooperate “as required,” though skeptics argue this alignment stems from necessity rather than legitimacy.
Meanwhile, Venezuela’s state-owned oil firm, PDVSA, has been negotiating to supply oil to the U.S. Commercially, Venezuela insists on receiving international market prices and resisting claims that its oil is a forfeited asset simply because of geopolitical conflict.
Global Ripple Effects
While the U.S. frames itself as steering Venezuela toward “stability and prosperity,” global reactions reveal a fractured world order:
- China, historically Venezuela’s largest oil customer, asserts that Venezuela retains sovereign control over its energy resources and condemns U.S. demands as violations of international law.
- Latin American public opinion has largely turned against what is seen as American overreach, with mass protests condemning the intervention.
- Energy markets initially reacted with mixed signals, showing oil prices stabilized or even declining due to expectations of increased Venezuelan supply under U.S. control.
And deeper still lurks the wider geopolitical narrative: critics compare this assertive U.S. campaign to historical doctrines of control in the Western Hemisphere, challenging decades of post–Cold War norms.
Where Things Stand
What was once couched as a targeted effort to counter drugs, crime, and corruption has unmistakably pivoted toward economic leverage. The U.S. has projected itself as both the manager of Venezuela’s oil sales and the arbiter of how Venezuelan revenue should circulate — effectively intertwining Venezuelan economic fundamentals with American strategic priorities.
Whether this approach helps ordinary Venezuelans rebuild their shattered economy — or merely binds Venezuela’s wealth to external interests — remains a subject of intense debate, both in Caracas and across the globe.