WASHINGTON — In an effort to invigorate Venezuela's struggling oil industry, President Donald Trump is convening a meeting Friday with leading oil executives at the White House. The objective is to secure a staggering $100 billion in investments aimed at restoring Venezuela's significant oil production capabilities, a prospect clouded by the country's political instability and soaring inflation.
In the wake of a recent U.S. military operatiom targeting former Venezuelan leader Nicolás Maduro, Trump is pivoting from conflict to economic opportunity, emphasizing initiatives to facilitate sales of Venezuelan oil globally. This includes taking charge of approximately 30 to 50 million previously sanctioned barrels of Venezuelan oil.
Set to occur behind closed doors at 2:30 p.m. EST, the meeting will involve executives from major oil companies including Chevron, which continues operations in Venezuela, alongside ExxonMobil and ConocoPhillips, firms that previously withdrew due to nationalizations under Maduro’s predecessor, Hugo Chávez.
Despite Trump's optimistic promises of large-scale investments, many oil companies remain skeptical, emphasizing the need for guaranteed contracts and a stable legal framework before committing significant resources. Trump has offered to bolster these investments with U.S. support, aiming to alleviate pressures on American consumers facing rising gasoline prices.
The upcoming discussions signal a bold move by the Trump administration to potentially reshape the relationship between U.S. oil companies and Venezuela, as well as a strategy to swing the economic outlook for both nations.
