What happened in Venezuela may turn out to be the most consequential energy and geopolitical event of the decade.
In a swift, coordinated operation that stunned the world, U.S. forces captured Venezuela’s longtime socialist dictator, Nicolás Maduro. Nearly as swiftly, President Donald Trump declared the United States will not only rebuild the country’s devastated oil infrastructure but also control all crude exports indefinitely.
To some, this might sound like neo-colonialism. But to investors, it could be an opportunity.
The administration has already announced it will market and sell 30 million to 50 million barrels of Venezuelan oil, with proceeds controlled directly by Trump. Energy Secretary Chris Wright went further, confirming the United States will be selling Venezuelan oil “indefinitely,” starting with backed-up storage barrels and expanding future production.
Some investors still don’t realize how resource-rich Venezuela is. The count
