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The president Donald Trump confirmed this Friday that his administration is coordinating with the largest oil companies in the world to manage and rebuild the Venezuelan energy sector, with the aim of stabilizing the country, reducing oil prices, and curbing drug trafficking.
“The interest is so great that the ballroom is not enough,” wrote Trump on his social media platform Truth Social, pointing out that more than a dozen major companies in the sector are looking to participate in the process.
The president announced that those companies that could not be met with today will meet in the coming days with the Secretary of Energy, Chris Wright, and the Secretary of the Interior, Doug Burgum, in a framework of ongoing coordination.
During the meeting, regional security, the fight against drug trafficking, and the reduction of oil prices for American consumers were also discussed.
The announcement comes in the context of a profound redefinition of U.S. policy towards Venezuela, following the arrest of Nicolás Maduro and his wife on January 3, during a U.S. military operation in Caracas.
Trump has stated that his administration will be "in charge" of Venezuelan oil and that Washington will oversee the production and marketing of crude oil as part of a plan for economic and political stabilization.
In recent interviews, the president stated that at least 14 major energy companies will invest a minimum of $100 billion to rebuild Venezuela's oil infrastructure, which has deteriorated after years of sanctions, mismanagement, and underinvestment.
According to the head of the White House, the revenue generated from oil will be managed under U.S. supervision to ensure it is used "for the benefit of the Venezuelan people."
According to Wright, the funds generated from oil sales will be deposited into accounts controlled by Washington, and he estimated that exports could reach up to 50 million barrels, equivalent to about 2 billion dollars.
According to the official, energy control is part of a three-phase plan - stabilization, recovery, and transition - aimed at preventing an economic collapse and promoting structural changes in the country.
Petróleos de Venezuela (PDVSA) confirmed this week that it is in negotiations with the U.S. government for the sale of crude volumes under schemes similar to those used with companies like Chevron, in a process it described as "legal and transparent."
Meanwhile, Venezuelan institutions continue to operate under the supervision of Washington, with Delcy Rodríguez serving as interim president.
For international analysts, Trump's call to major oil companies solidifies energy control as a central axis of the United States strategy towards Venezuela and marks a shift from the policy of isolation applied in previous years, ushering in an era dominated by economic reconstruction under U.S. oversight.
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