The Trump administration has declared its intention to maintain indefinite control over Venezuela’s oil exports and direct the decisions of the country’s interim leadership following the capture of President Nicolas Maduro. This bold assertion of hemispheric dominance represents a significant escalation in U.S. involvement in Venezuelan affairs.
White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt confirmed Wednesday that Washington would continue dictating policy decisions to Venezuela’s interim authorities, stating that the U.S. maintains “maximum leverage” following Saturday’s military operation that extracted Maduro from Caracas. The deposed leader and his wife were transported to New York where they face narcotics trafficking charges.
The administration’s strategy hinges on controlling Venezuela’s oil industry, with Energy Secretary Chris Wright announcing plans to market Venezuelan crude “indefinitely, going forward.” This includes immediate sales of 30-50 million barrels of stored oil and continued control over future production. The approach relies heavily on naval blockades to prevent Venezuela from selling oil to sanctioned allies including Russia, China, and Iran.
In a demonstration of this maritime strategy, U.S. forces seized a Russian-linked oil tanker in the North Atlantic on Wednesday after pursuing the vessel from Venezuelan waters. The tanker, previously identified as Bella-1, had recently changed its registration to Russia.
President Trump is scheduled to meet with U.S. oil executives Friday to discuss potential investments in Venezuela’s deteriorating energy infrastructure, though no firm commitments have been made amid the ongoing political instability. The administration’s comprehensive plan combines economic control, military pressure, and political oversight to reshape Venezuela’s governance and energy sector.