Trump pledges security for US oil firms investing in Venezuela

President Donald Trump pledged Friday that his administration would provide security guarantees for American oil companies working in Venezuela under US direction. Speaking at a White House meeting with oil executives, Trump asserted, "We're going to make sure there's very, very good security," suggesting collaboration with Venezuelan authorities and the companies' own security measures. The announcement follows the US military operation that captured former President Nicolas Maduro earlier this month.

Strategic and Economic Framework

Trump detailed a plan involving approximately $100 billion in oil infrastructure investment from US firms. He stated that Venezuela has agreed to allow the United States to "immediately begin refining and selling up to 50 million barrels of Venezuelan crude oil," a arrangement intended to continue indefinitely. "All of the companies here today are going to be treasured partners in bringing the nation of Venezuela back to life," Trump told the executives, framing the initiative as beneficial for both nations' economies and the involved corporations.

Political Context and International Aims

The offer is extended to the administration of Acting President Delcy Rodriguez, which Trump said the US is "getting along extremely well" with following Maduro's ouster. A key stated objective is to displace other foreign influence. "We don't want to have Russia there. We don't want to have China there," Trump emphasized. This move aims to reorient Venezuela's oil sector, the world's largest by proven reserves, firmly toward US economic and strategic interests after years of sanctions and political estrangement.

Legal Proceedings and Transition

The backdrop to this economic push is the ongoing legal case against Maduro. After being captured in Caracas on January 3, he and his wife were flown to New York, where they pleaded not guilty to drug and weapons charges this week. Trump previously stated the US would "run" Venezuela and its oil assets during a transitional period, indicating a hands-on approach to restructuring the country's primary economic engine under a new political alignment favorable to Washington.