Wednesday, February 11, 2026-In a dramatic turn that is reshaping U.S.–Latin America relations, President Donald Trump has aggressively positioned the United States to assert control over Venezuelan oil — a move experts say breaks a long-standing American taboo against overtly claiming foreign natural resources.
After U.S. forces captured Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro in early January amid a military intervention, the administration quickly pivoted from framing operations as a crackdown on narcotrafficking to openly discussing the seizure and future exploitation of Venezuela’s vast oil reserves. Analysts note that Trump has gone further than any modern president in asserting a U.S. “right” to take and sell Venezuelan oil, rather than solely securing access through markets or investment.
The White House has taken unprecedented steps to facilitate U.S. involvement in Venezuela’s energy sector, including issuing a broad license allowing American goods, technology, and services to support oil exploration and production — even as constraints on direct joint ventures remain in place.
Recent actions include capturing tankers linked to Venezuelan crude, controlling shipments, and announcing plans to transfer tens of millions of barrels directly to U.S. docks for sale at market prices. Trump has also urged oil executives to invest billions to rebuild Venezuela’s battered oil infrastructure under U.S. protection, a strategy aimed at reviving output and integrating it into global supply chains. Critics warn this blurs the line between economic engagement and resource appropriation.
The push comes at a time when Venezuela’s oil industry, long hindered by underinvestment, sanctions, and political turmoil, could see production rebound toward pre-blockade levels by mid-2026. U.S. policymakers argue that stabilizing energy output could benefit both Venezuelans and global markets.
But opponents see the U.S. moves as a departure from established foreign policy norms that respect a sovereign nation’s control over its natural resources. They argue that the Trump approach — treating Venezuelan oil as a de facto American asset — crosses into geopolitical overreach, potentially undermining international law and decades of diplomatic restraint.
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